My First Liver Transplant

This acrylic painting in canvas depicts Pros’ inexplicable journey from the time he was rushed to the Emergency Room at Kaiser Sunset Blvd.on Sept. 7, 2008, then transferred to  on Sept. 15, 2008, where he received his liver transplant on October 6, 2008. Each of the color transition represents the months he endured – from experiencing absolute darkness and transitioning into a coloful new life of hope and faith as he progressed through physical therapies at St. Jude Medical and Centers for Rehabilitation and Wellness. Pros’ talent in painting, as illustrated in his “Back to Life”, was his way of alleviating some of the medicinal side effects, pains, and frustrations.

“BACK TO LIFE” by Prospero Galido

About Pros: Before Pros got sick, he worked at Duff & Phelps LLC as Vice President, Machinery & Equipment Valuation. He appraised corporate fixed assets, specializing in power plants, mining, paper mills, semiconductor manufacturing assets and other heavy industrial plants. Pros traveled within the USA and to many foreign countries. Pros is currently the President of the “Loretenos in the USA and Canada” or LUSCAN, a non-profit organization. This organization is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity and serves the communities of Loreto and Tubahon, Dinagat Island, Philippines. LUSCAN built and maintains a public library, partnered two medical missions, donated playground equipment for Loreto’s elementary school children, and donated books to several schools in these communities.

October 6, 2009

I am back with a new life indeed! Hello to you all, my dear family and friends.

One year ago on October 6, 2008, I was in a state of oblivion. My liver had failed. I want to remember this day as my day of reckoning — a time when something must be dealt with; a time to accept suffering and experience the newness of life

……..and at this juncture, I want to celebrate this new life with you.

Mother Theresa said: “ Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a beauty, admire it. Life is a bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is a sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.”

Praise and glorify our Almighty God, Lord Jesus – the Divine Mercy, the Divine Healer, the Author of Life, the Comforter of the Afflicted, the Cause of my Hope and Joy;

Thanks to the best doctors and specialists, nurses, coordinators, therapists, dialysis team, dietitians, liver support group, pastors, medical assistants, phlebotomists of ., more specifically to the finest liver transplant team led by Dr. B, the ICU Liver Unit, the Pfleger Liver Institute, and Dr. F nephrology office. I also want to thank the ER team, doctors, nurses, of Kaiser Sunset Blvd. and Lakeview; as well as, the doctors, nurses, therapists of St. Jude Medical Center and St. Jude’s Center for Rehabilatition and Wellness. They all played a role in bringing me to this new existence;

Thanks to my own family – Nora (my dearest wife) and Pol and Cristina (my two loving children) who stayed with me through my sufferings, and provided me their loving care and utmost patience as we journeyed together through the most trying times yet never losing hope for my miraculous healing.

Again, I want to thank all of you who supported my family and prayed for my healing, your emails and cards of encouragement, mass offerings, and your well-wishes. You lifted me up with your love & prayers.

I am happy and blessed to be with my family, and friends again.

Pros Galido

P.S. May share with you some lessons learned from this experience:
1. God is in our midst. “When you pass through the waters of difficulty and the flames of distress, know that God is always there with you. For the Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble. And He knows those who trust in him.:– Nahum 1:7
2. Life in the fast lane is not worth the risk, “Stop and smell the roses.”
3. Turn-off Stress. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely to get sick. It can make problems that we already have to get worse;
4. Positive thoughts begets better results. Negative thoughts begets negative energy;
5. Know that life is precious and life is sweet.