For Jason Delgado, the choice was easy.
Do nothing and face the prospect of an early death without seeing his children grow up, or prepare financially and emotionally for a heart transplant and the chance for a long and productive life.
Five years later, Delgado has a donor's heart beating in his chest, he plays with Skylar, 9, and Miles, 6, every day and plans their future with his wife, Jessi. He's also tackling the final year of chef's school and looking forward to a new career.
That's the story the Crown Point man told a group of high school sophomores this summer at Indiana's Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership conference hosted by Butler University in Indianapolis. Delgado, 35, was selected as one of five panelists to address the HOBY ambassadors on the topic "What is your choice in life?"
"For many years, we have included a seminar on organ donation," Mary Saubert, a registered nurse in the organ transplant unit at Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital told Delgado by e-mail when she invited him to join this year's panel. "How does this fit into the leadership theme? We all have the option to make a choice to donate after our death and if that isn't leadership, what is?"
Delgado accepted the chance to share his story and the importance of organ donations with young people from throughout the state who may someday need a transplant, can save lives with an organ donation, or make the laws governing such medical procedures.
Born a "blue baby" with congenital heart disease, Delgado underwent a procedure at birth to get blood flowing through his heart and surgery at age 2 to keep blood flowing. Pacemakers helped him survive into his late 20s, when "heart fluttering" made it difficult for the Whiting High School graduate to walk even 20 feet without stopping to catch his breath. After an unsuccessful procedure to stop the fluttering, Delgado was told he would need a heart transplant within five years.
"I chose life, I wanted to see my kids grow," Delgado told the attentive high schoolers. "Though it would be a rough ride, I love livin'. I would think we all do."
Delgado had to stop working and apply for Social Security disability benefits to qualify for the financial aid that would help fund the transplant. Three years later, after being on the waiting list for four months, he received "the call" a heart was available in Indianapolis on Thanksgiving weekend. "All went well," Delgado said, summing up his surgery and recovery, and he has kept a promise he made to his wife to return to school.
After the panel discussion, Delgado and other panelists answered questions and then met with small discussion groups. "They asked me if I saw my heart after it was removed. I didn't, but I was told it was three times normal size. They also asked about stem cell research, and if I had cravings for different foods after my transplant. Actually, I did - for black-eyed peas and collard greens," Delgado said.
Active in New Beginnings, a transplant support group for pre- and post-transplant patients and their families, Delgado bought Ed Jagiela, a corneal transplant recipient, with him to the HOBY conference. "Ed spoke to one of the small groups after our panel and Q-and-A session," Delgado said. "He's the driving force behind the (support) group."
New Beginnings meets at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the auditorium at St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart. Call Delgado at (219) 663-3747 or Jagiela at (219) 769-4479.
BREAKOUT
What is HOBY?
Inspired by a visit with Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership was formed in 1958 by actor Hugh O'Brian and began holding annual seminars in California for high school sophomores. Three- and four-day seminars offering high schools nationwide a chance to nominate a sophomore to attend in their own state began in 1977, and a World Leadership Conference is held annually. HOBY inspires more than 8.500 young people annually in the United States to develop their leadership and critical-thinking skills to achieve their highest potential.
This year's 30th annual HOBY Indiana featured panel discussions on media influence, U.S. elections, the future of the United States, the business of education, business ethics and volunteerism, as well as the panel on life choices Jason Delgado addressed.
