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This was on my wedding day right before walking down the isle to marry my best friend, three months after my dad received his second liver transplant. He’s incredible.
Growing up, like any girl, I always dreamt of what my wedding day would be like. Who I’d be marrying, who my bridesmaids would be, being surrounded by our family and friends, my dress, the flowers. Everything. I did, however, have a fear, and that was wether or not my dad would be there to walk me down the isle.
From a young age, my dad has battled an incurable disease. Not much that I’ll go into detail with, but it’s left him countless times in the hospital. He was blessed with his first transplant in 2000 on memorial day weekend. I’ll never forget that moment when he came up to me, hugged me and told me he was on his way to the hospital for the doctors to fix him. He told me not to worry, everything would be okay and he would see me soon. Next thing I remember, is visiting him in ICU. I don’t know if that was a good or bad thing. I don’t know if it scarred me or if it made us stronger, but it makes me emotional to this day, thirteen years ago, looking back on it. He survived. My dad was alive, but in critical condition. He made it unexpectedly very quickly through his recovery from surgery and was once again a new man.
Ten years passed, and his transplanted liver was started to fail. His health was once again at it’s all time low and he was suffering, this time real bad. He was depressed, angry, hurt, in pain. Family didn’t want to be around him due to his negativity and his relationships with those around him were crumbling. We doubted a lot. We doubted we would get that call again that would change things and once again help him gain more years of his life. My dad is young, 58 years old, and knowing if another liver may not be available to him would mean we would no longer have him here, and that was due to happen soon.
However, an incredible blessing happened one day while I was at work. In September of 2010, he got a call from Stanford. There was a liver. He called me, I cried. It was time. Due to his condition so many fears whirled around in my brain. Would he be able to make it through this time around? Surgery is twice as long. He is in very poor condition, please God help us through this. My brother drove him up to Stanford which is about 3 1/2 hours north from where we are. I left work, informed Tyler and made my journey up to join them. I paced the hallways of the hospital. I hugged my dad more times than I can remember. I stared at him. I knew he was nervous. I knew he wanted to cry. That day was the most emotional day I’ve ever experienced. It took hours for them to prep. The donor organ was not in the same town we were, which meant we had to wait until it got transported. Hours, upon hours of tests and blood work were needed. We sat in the hospital room, waiting, and waiting. Anticipating, for seven hours.
During that time, I couldn’t get a hold of my husband for a few hours. I needed someone to get my mind off things. I knew he was home with Ava, why wasn’t he answering? Finally, I got a call from him. “Come to the waiting room.” There he was. My strength, my shoulder to cry on, my very best friend and partner. He flew up, surprised me and was there for me during this very emotional and difficult time. Ava stayed home with my in-laws.
Hours passed, we waited, then finally it was time to say our goodbyes. We walked down the cold hallways, to the elevators, and to the surgery center. I watched as my dad laid in the bed, stiff, scared, worried. Tears fell from my eyes. Would this possibly be the last time I’d see him? Is this my final goodbye? We hugged, we said our I love you’s and then he was on his way. Twelve long hours passed as we sat in the hospital waiting room. We slept upright, we drank coffee to keep warm from the cold, dry air the hospital consumes. The longest twelve hours of my life.
Then, as I was drifting off to sleep, a nurse walked out asking for the Lopez Family. That was us! “Your father is out of surgery, everything went well, and he is recovering.” THOSE WORDS. Can you imagine the sign of relief we all had? He made it. Thank you GOD, THANK YOU!!
The road to recovery the second time around was a hard one. A lot of stress, pain, kidney failure and extra time in the ICU. Due to my job, and Ava, I couldn’t stay as long as I wanted up with him, but I did get my time to pitch in to help take care of him. The day that we left, while he was still unconscious in ICU, I cried my eyes out. I couldn’t believe everything that had just happened, did. What a blessing. What a miracle.
Today, my dad is healthy. His disease is currently dormant, and he is a whole new man. His spirits are high, he lives every day like it’s his last, and our relationship is stronger than it’s ever been. His positivity that he never had before, gleams through him. He loves who he is and what’s he’s overcome, and I don’t blame him. He’s been through a battle, and very, very, tough battle, but he’s here today to tell the story.
You’re an amazing person Dad. You’ve helped me become a much stronger woman, and have shown me how to stand by my faith and hope for the best. Thank you for being who you are, even through the tough times. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and everything you’ve helped me through. Thank you for being the strength, and the inspiration that you really can get through anything. I love you!