Organ donation unites Salt Lake City, Paraguayan families
Salt Lake Tribune | David Montero
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) "I hope that the experience we had will offer encouragement to someone who is going through something like this," said Mirta López, comforting her daughter Pame as they listen to and watch Gabriela Caballero's heart beat during Allyson Gamble's echocardiogram. Center is Gamble's husband Jim Gamble
Darkness swallowed the room, tears filled her eyes and, for the briefest of moments, Mirta López had her daughter back.
"SÃ! SÃ!" she cried. "So beautiful."
López watched the beating heart on the grainy echocardiogram â€" the screen’s glow lighting her wide smile and glistening cheeks. In a chair, Pame Caballero, her youngest daughter, sobbed softly.
The technician steadied the wand on Allyson Gamble’s chest as she lay curled up on the hospital bed against the wall. Gamble squeezed López’s hand. Tight.
"She’s taking good care of me," Gamble said.
"It was meant to be for you," López replied.
For the long minutes that followed, the two just gazed at each other. Mirta López had spent 24 hours on three flights across two continents to witness this â€" her daughter’s heart giving Gamble life. López’s joy, angst and longing were as inseparable as shades of mixed paint. After all, it was only April and she’d just buried her daughter about four months earlier.
The strong, steady pulse that once powered the body of 25-year-old Gabriela Caballero pounded rhythmically in Gamble’s chest. The sound, amplified on speakers, filled the room. Gamble’s husband ducked out for a fresh box of tissues.
Gamble locked eyes with López â€" mother to mother.
"Thank you," she said.
"SÃ," López replied.
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) "I hope that the experience we had will offer encouragement to someone who is going through something like this," said Mirta López, comforting her daughter Pame as they listen to and watch Gabriela Caballero's heart beat during Allyson Gamble's echocardiogram. Center is Gamble's husband Jim Gamble
Darkness swallowed the room, tears filled her eyes and, for the briefest of moments, Mirta López had her daughter back.
"SÃ! SÃ!" she cried. "So beautiful."
López watched the beating heart on the grainy echocardiogram â€" the screen’s glow lighting her wide smile and glistening cheeks. In a chair, Pame Caballero, her youngest daughter, sobbed softly.
The technician steadied the wand on Allyson Gamble’s chest as she lay curled up on the hospital bed against the wall. Gamble squeezed López’s hand. Tight.
"She’s taking good care of me," Gamble said.
"It was meant to be for you," López replied.
For the long minutes that followed, the two just gazed at each other. Mirta López had spent 24 hours on three flights across two continents to witness this â€" her daughter’s heart giving Gamble life. López’s joy, angst and longing were as inseparable as shades of mixed paint. After all, it was only April and she’d just buried her daughter about four months earlier.
The strong, steady pulse that once powered the body of 25-year-old Gabriela Caballero pounded rhythmically in Gamble’s chest. The sound, amplified on speakers, filled the room. Gamble’s husband ducked out for a fresh box of tissues.
Gamble locked eyes with López â€" mother to mother.
"Thank you," she said.
"SÃ," López replied.
Read more
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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