|
|
Notes: This story reprinted with permission from The Mountain Press. Thank you very much Mountain Press! Originally printed in The Mountain Press on June 18, 2001.
THE BEST GIFT EVER - Father lives to see his children grow
by
LAURA LONG MARTIN, Staff Writer for The Mountain Press
| |
Ricky, Cierra, 8, and Shawn, 2 have some laughs.
|
Today, as the father of two children, Cierra, 8, and Shawn, 2, he has beaten the odds with his faith in God and his unquenchable determination to live.
He is also scheduled to be one of 70 people representing the United States at the World Transplant Games in Kobe, Japan on August 26.
Castro is a "cluster" transplant recipient, and his successful surgery is still being talked about all over the United States.
Castro's health problems began in 1989 when he had surgery for bowel problems and was left with only 18 inches of small intestine. From that point, he was in and out of the hospital for everything from infections to liver failure.
The first ray of hope came in 1998 when Castro's mother, Gwen Ford, drove her son to a research hospital in Houston, Texas.
"It turned out to be a bull's eye," Ford said. "The doctor's there had studied liver problems and in 30 days, Ricky was balanced out. He still needed a liver transplant, though."
Ford found a research center in Miami that was willing to perform Castro's surgery, but only if he was willing to participate in what is known as a "cluster" transplant, which is a transplant of the stomach, pancreas, liver, small intestine, and bone marrow.
Ford explained that the Miami center is interested in finding out if a "cluster" transplant of several organs increases the chances of patient survival.
Ford also says that TennCare paid for the surgery, which cost $1 million.
Now, the story of Castro's success is almost a legend at the research center, and his participation in "transplant games" is getting to be a regular topic as well.
Last summer, Castro participated in the U.S. Transplant Games at Walt Disney World in three events: volleyball, golf, and bowling.
"I'll be competing in the same three events in Japan this summer," Castro says. "There's one other person from Tennessee on the team, but I haven't found out the name yet."
Castro, who is the 44th person in the world to have a "cluster" transplant, takes 34 pills a day to prevent rejection of the organs. He also takes special care to maintain hydration, but he takes no pain medication and can eat what he enjoys.
"My success is due to my faith, being in a church that supports me, and having that unspoken backbone," Castro says. "I would also like to thank my donor family, but I don't really know how to thank them in a way that shows how much their gift means to me."
Father's Day for Castro, who stays at home to care for his children while their mother, Tammy, works, is going to be an extra special day for him as well as his children.
They have their father back.
"I remember Cierra telling me, when I was really sick before I had the transplant, that she really wanted me to be able to run and chase her," Castro said.
Castro, in great shape and getting ready for the World Transplant Games, is able to chase his daughter and son all over the house if he wants to.
And he does.
Laura Martin can be reached at lmartin@themountainpress.com.
| |
