The Zelada's Story of Hope
Ten years ago Ramiro and Maria Zelada, packed their bags and bid farewell to Los Angeles smog in exchange for the quality of life offered in Kansas City. They now share a beautiful new home in Olathe with their teenage children, Christina and Christopher and the ever-loyal four-legged Cooper. Ramiro is close to completing a master’s degree and works for Quest, formerly LabOne. Maria works part time at St. Luke’s South.
This high-energy family offers more fun-filled surprises. As a togetherness project, the Zeladas rent inflatable moonwalks for children’s parties! Not a bad ending for two kids who left their home country of Guatemala twenty five years ago in the midst of civil war.
Sound like a dream life?
It was…until Ramiro was told that he needed a life-saving liver transplant. Ramiro expressed to Gift of Life how important it is to honor the donor and talk to family and friends about the urgent need for organ and tissue donation.
Did your family discuss organ and tissue donation prior to your transplant?
Only briefly. Maria is a strong believer in organ donation and she always had the donor label on her driver’s license.
How did Christopher and Christina react to your news?
Everything happened too fast. One day I was fine. Two months later I was disabled…couldn’t walk, couldn’t drive and the doctors were telling me that I only had a couple of months to survive…It was in the summertime when I got sick. The children were very strong throughout. They took over for me and helped their mother in the family business. They also took over more household chores so their mother could work more at her other job.
When I had to leave my house for the hospital…seeing my kids with tears in their eyes... They hugged me and for one split second I thought, this may be the last time I see them. That really got my heart. We are very proud of our children and believe this experience will make them stronger adults.
How did your extended family react?
It was a total shock to everyone. They assumed that only alcoholics get cirrhosis and were very surprised to learn otherwise. Most people in Guatemala believe that transplants are for wealthy people who can afford the surgery and travel expense. Organ donation is not a topic of conversation and not an option for the general public.
How long did you wait for a transplant?
I was on the list for 3 ½ months. I received four calls from the medical center indicating that an organ was available. We drove the 200 mile trip three times before a suitable match was found for me.
Do you have advice for those who have just begun the wait?
Get informed. Join a transplant support group and ask questions. Follow your doctor’s advice, even if it’s uncomfortable. My wife and daughter went to a liver support group at KU. They met some wonderful people who answered all of their questions and gave them hope, when they were feeling hopeless. I was too sick to go and a liver recipient that was in the meeting came over to my house to cheer me up. Those people are wonderful. AND DON’T LOSE HOPE….BELIEVE!
Does Maria have advice for spouses in this situation?
FOCUS. Have a daily goal. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the big picture. Be humble and take help from your friends and neighbors, church friends and co-workers. People want to help, but don’t know how unless you ask.
Your colleagues at Quest get very high marks. How can coworkers help?
Phone calls, cards and visits. My coworkers would actually have prayer meetings and raise funds to help with expenses. I cannot tell you how much we appreciated their help at a time when we really needed it.
On a scale of 1 -10, how would you rate the general awareness of the adult community about organ and tissue donation?
Very, very low….information needs to be available to help people understand the weight of the situation. I never thought it would be me. They need to be told that organ and tissue donation saves lives…it could be any of us or our children.
Honoring the donor is important to you. How did you begin this part of the journey?
I wrote the family a letter and wanted them to know that I’m just going to try to honor that person….to know that I was going to lead a good life so they can be sure that their hard decision was justified. And I am going to try to be a good person for the rest of my life.
As I awoke from the surgery, a Priest was there and he asked me if I wanted to pray. I said yes --- for the soul of the person. Pray for the family of the person who saved my life because they are the real heroes. |
