May 23, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- An otherwise routine citizenship ceremony was extra special for a Florida immigration officer who presented a naturalization certificate to a doctor from Peru who saved her life.
On Wednesday, immigration services officer Melissa Wingerd handed Dr. Gabriel Gonzales-Portillo his naturalization certificate.
Last year, Wingerd suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage and was taken to a Tampa-area hospital. Gonzales-Portillo was the neurosurgeon on call and performed a lifesaving operation on Wingerd.
After being in the United States for about 20 years, Gonzales-Portillo received his citizenship along with his wife. More than 450 people from 75 countries became U.S. citizens during the ceremony.
Gonzales-Portillo said he was going straight from the ceremony to the hospital because he had brain surgeries scheduled.
AP-WF-03-14-12 1846GMT
 |
Get the ingredients you need to cook with Rach all week long. |
 | |
 |
Full length exclusive concerts from hot artists. |
| |
 |
Take a break! Classic Pacman, Frogger, Asteroids and more. |
| |
 |
FREE Listings Sell almost anything locally. |
| |
