(This is part two of a two-part article. Check last week’s issue on August 13, Ganado’s Leading Light turns 96.)
In 2010, Clara Gutierrez began to fall around the house and was taken to MD Anderson Cancer Center. A tumor the size of a pecan was found in her brain, but she didn’t want surgery at the time.
The family headed home, and arrived in Ganado at 5 p.m. On her way to the front door, Clara fell again, this time the concrete rose up to meet her face, breaking her eyeglasses.
The following year, the falling began to happen more. Clara was taken back to the cancer center, and the tumor had grown into the size of a grapefruit. On her own, Clara chose to have surgery, one which lasted over eight hours.
Her doctor returned to the family, stunned with what he witnessed. In his 30-something years, he told the family he’d only seen a medical miracle once.
“They needed to open her cranium in order to clamp off two arteries,” Gina began. “But the right side of her brain had already been clamped off, and the doctor said medically that my mom shouldn’t be alive.”
Clara went into a deep coma after that, not on life support, and she simply wouldn’t wake up.
“I remember being on my cot, and I heard some rustling, and I sat up immediately,” Gina said. “But no one was in the room, and then I saw my mom’s blanket move. I called the nurses in there, and they called the doctor. I pulled back the blanket and she was mumbling with her fingers slightly, a gesture one who prays the rosary would recognize.”
Clara came out of her coma and was able to go home a few days later. After that, she started walking again. The doctors at MD Anderson who worked on Clara, they put their faith aside when on the job, and admitted they’ve never seen a miracle like her.
So she was chosen as MD Anderson’s Miracle of the Year 2021. They choose one person who is a testament to the possibility of miracles, and has survived things that cannot be explained.
Recently, Clara has had a son on life-support for seven weeks, causing her to almost cancel her birthday party. This son, Richard, is the type to call every Sunday, but instead has been unable to due to being on life-support. But Gina said her mother decided on her own that enjoying her birthday party was something Richard would’ve wanted.
“All I wanted for my birthday was for my son to come back to us,” Clara said.
The Saturday before her party, the doctors informed the family they took Richard off of life-support, and on Sunday morning, guess who called his mother?
“For the first time in seven weeks my brother called, and the first thing he said was: mama, mama, mama,” Gina said. “So her wish was granted.”
Mary Ballin, a member of the Assumption of the Virgin Blessed Mary, has known Clara for many years and had wonderful things to say about her, like Clara being a lady of simplicity, yet full with class.
“She’s led a rich life, not through materialism, but with loving and caring for so many people. Clara is special to so many, and I see her as one of America’s Strong.
Gina said Clara has asked several times why is she still on this Earth, and what is her purpose for still being here.
“I believe she’s here to take care of and save all of her children. She’s done it countless times before,” Gina said. “I believe she’s a true disciple who will always do things for the less fortunate.”
Ballin said she believes Clara’s purpose in life is to care for her family and others. “She’s also here to share her love for God and His Holy Mother. Sincerity, kindness, humility, honesty, strength, courage, integrity, respect for her country and others, honor, and her faith, that is what I see when I look at her.”
When asked what should we as people do when things are bad? Clara has an easy answer.
“Just pray.”
