El Listin Diario reports that 31-year old Faustina Mauricio Mercedes (Angelita o Ana Maria Mercedes), the native of Sabana de la Mar who saved her shipwrecked 16 fellow boat trip passengers, has become an international celebrity. Mercedes breastfed her fellow companions for 12 days at sea, saving them from dehydration. The group didn’t make it to Puerto Rico, but all survived the trip thanks to her generosity. Her story has appeared in Hispanic media in the US (Telemundo, Univision) and has been carried by wire services such as AP, and by the BBC and Diario El Pais of Spain. The director of the National Commission of Breastfeeding, Dr. Josefina García said that her department is organizing an event to honor Mercedes. She also said they are filling out the paperwork to get the feet into the Guiness Book of World Records. Unicef has also recognized Mercedes.
