ESCONDIDO: Couple put sports car up for sale to thank a children's hospital

By Renee Haines - For the North County Times | Friday, December 12, 2008 7:25 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- An Escondido couple are putting their gleaming red Porsche convertible up for sale to raise funds for the San Diego children's hospital that saved their son's life.

"I just saw an opportunity to give back to the hospital," Robert Freitas said Thursday in front of Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. "The car was a want, not a need. The hospital is a need."

His wife, Tisha, agreed.

"It was being around the children's hospital and seeing how many people need the help of other people," she said while holding their children, Nicholas, 3, and Alexis, 2. "You want to help out as many children as you can."

All proceeds from the sale of the 2007 Porsche 911-997, which now has an oversized Christmas bow on the front seat, will benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the only children's hospital serving San Diego County.

The couple praised Hoehn Porsche in Carlsbad for agreeing to handle selling the car and to forgo any markup on the vehicle, which was purchased a year ago for $90,000-plus. The couple hope the one-year-old car sells for around $75,000.

In January 2005, Tisha's pregnancy was in trouble, and their son Nicholas was born more than 7 weeks premature, with still undeveloped lungs, at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, the couple said.

Their son was rushed to Rady for treatment in the neonatal unit for the next five days.

Robert said he still remembers the fear he felt for his wife and son.

"You're so scared," he said, pausing to look at his wife, who was standing several feet away with their son and daughter.

"She's my best friend. As far as I'm concerned, we're still on our honeymoon. I love her so much."

Robert, now 42, met Tisha, now 36, in 1990.

"After four months, I knew," he said.

They were married in 1991. After their children were born, he had their names tattooed on his arms.

"Sure, I'll miss it," he said about the Porsche. "But I've got a nice truck, and I've got my kids' initials on my truck."

The Porsche is just the latest, if grandest, gesture by the couple to thank the hospital.

Two years ago, the couple, owners of Quick-Dry Flood Services in San Marcos, donated a pallet of popular toys for children at the hospital.

The couple donated $15,000 to the hospital last year and $15,000 earlier this year. While Robert was talking about selling the car Thursday, Tisha was on her cell phone planning a barbecue to raise more funds.

"It's about the kids, bottom line. This is an amazing facility, and every bit helps," Robert said.

Hospital spokesman Ben Metcalf praised the couple's decision to sell their sports car to help the neonatal unit, a 38-bed facility he described as "bursting at the seams." He said the unit will be expanded as part of construction now under way of a new addition to the hospital.

"Especially in these economic times, it makes such a generous gift," Metcalf said.