Andres

Since I am the oldest grandchild in my family many of the children find motivation in me. Yet what no one knows is that the youngest one has motivated me this last year. My youngest cousin is Andres, who happens to be my Godson as well. Andres was born January 24^th, 2014. What makes Andres unique is what some may call a tragedy. He was born three weeks early, with a single ventricle heart. Which meant that his heart inserted if having two chambers it had one. At his one-month check-up, he was hospitalized at PCH due to an extremely low level of oxygen in his blood. After a month in the hospital and three near death experiences, which required liquid resuscitation he had an emergency, open heart surgery. The surgery would help to build the chamber that was missing in his heart. After his heart surgery in March he stayed at the hospital until April 15^th.

As Andres was in the hospital he taught me so many lessons about why life is important. Like the fact that the universe never gives you anything that you cannot handle. Yet the best thing I learned from him is that no matter how painful life may be you have to smile. Everyday he smiled even with all the procedures he was having and pain he felt. He helped me to appreciate everyday, not knowing if it may be the last. I remember walking in to his hospital room and just feeling a sigh of relief because he was still there. In March it will be one year of his first surgery, although the road has been very long, with many doctors’ appointments, papers and still more to come. It is amazing to say that a child who cannot have an converse can show you that life will always has a deeper meaning, and that even if all odds are against you, you must fight.