It was 1996 when Pablo Gutierrez and his mother Josefina made their first visit to 吃瓜头条.
Josefina needed to enroll in continuing education courses to continue her work as an assistant with Head Start. Pablo was there to translate her Spanish into English, but he didn鈥檛 quite understand the process.
He could only stand by, feeling his mother鈥檚 frustration.
鈥淚 was 12,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 kept thinking, 鈥業t shouldn鈥檛 be this difficult.鈥� She knew her job was on the line, and no one was helping her. I told her, 鈥楳om, don鈥檛 worry. One day I鈥檓 going to be a counselor and help people like you.鈥欌��
Many years later, now a Blue Devil athletics counselor, Gutierrez recognizes the impact 吃瓜头条 had as he navigated difficulties throughout his adult life.
鈥淚t changed my life forever,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t gave me purpose and hope during the most challenging time of my life.鈥�
Dreams
Pablo was a student at Golden Valley High School the next time he visited the college, this time to gain some easy credits by taking a soccer class.
A permanent U.S. resident from Mexico, Pablo was finishing up high school, renewing his green card and being recruited to play soccer at Stanislaus State in 2002. Without the renewal, he wouldn鈥檛 be able to play or continue his education. Stakes were high, but the 鈥渓awyer鈥� hired to help disappeared with Pablo鈥檚 family鈥檚 money.
No money, no green card, no soccer. Pablo could not legally work in the U.S. His only shot at a future was to return to Mexico, where his uncle had secured him a tryout with the Liga MX Club America program. He left his family in 2003, knowing he might never return.
Club America eventually helped Pablo, who played on the reserve team, secure a tourist visa. In 2005, he finally visited home, and met Jessica.
As Pablo鈥檚 visa was expiring, the couple knew they wanted to get married eventually. To secure his U.S. residency, in 2007, they got married right away instead. They built a life鈥攚orking, traveling, buying a home and having their first child, daughter Naima, in 2010.
Nightmare
It felt like a 鈥渉appily ever after鈥� story, until Naima got sick.
The 2-year-old couldn鈥檛 shake a recurring fever in 2012. Doctors kept saying she had a cold. Jessica kept asking questions until a doctor discovered a huge lump on Naima鈥檚 kidney.
It was a rare rhabdoid tumor, an aggressive cancer that cruelly targets young children. They took Naima to Valley Children鈥檚 Hospital in Madera that same day.
鈥淥ur whole world crumbled,鈥� Pablo said.
Oncologists removed Naima鈥檚 kidney. She endured chemotherapy and radiation. She beat back infections while doctors marveled at her resilience.
Yet, early on, Naima鈥檚 little body was already so ravaged by treatments that doctors stopped them and sent her home. They told Pablo and Jessica to make Naima comfortable.
When Naima spiked a fever, they raced to the hospital. In the ambulance, Naima had a seizure. Pablo had to put his hand in her mouth so she wouldn鈥檛 bite off her tongue. In the ER, no one could find Naima鈥檚 pulse. She coded. Naima had no immune system to fight another infection. Doctors said she wouldn鈥檛 make it through the night.
During those terrifying hours in the NICU, a friend encouraged Naima鈥檚 parents to turn to God. Pablo opened a bible and randomly landed on Mark 5:41. In it, Jesus revives a girl who was thought to be dead.
He took her by the hand and said to her, 鈥淭alitha, koum!鈥� which means 鈥淟ittle girl, I say to you, arise!鈥�
鈥淭here was no other option for my daughter, no other plan,鈥� Pablo said. 鈥淏ut the next morning she woke up and told us she wanted to go outside and play.
鈥淭hat was Christmas Day.鈥�
