After a life-changing surgery, an 81-year-old woman still has the heart to give back.
Mary Frugé has lived a long life thanks to a heart transplant she received more than 20 years ago. It was the heart of a 12-year-old boy.
"I thought I was blessed to have a child's heart," she said.
An angel was looking over her then, and now she's an angel to a child every year.
It's become a tradition for her to adopt an angel off the Salvation Army Angel tree. Frugé says she can't bear the thought of a child waking up on Christmas morning with no gifts to open.
She is adopting one of 50,000 angels that need help this Christmas season.
Frugé said she put her heart into searching for gifts for her adopted angel.
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"I think they come from all types of situations and some of them are less fortunate than others," she said. "I think Christmas is for children, and I think it's sad to think of a child not being able to have the simple things."
For Frugé, the secret to her long life has been giving to others.
"Giving is very important," she said. "I believe what you give is what you receive. I've been a giver all my life, and it certainly has been true for me."
And what she has received in return is the knowledge that a child's Christmas wish will come true.
"It makes you feel very good, it really does," Frugé said.
Angels can be adopted through Dec. 12.
If you would like to volunteer for the Salvation Army in Fort Worth, call 817-923-7030. In Dallas, call 214-902-0179.
