Magic & Miracles - Christopher Zilar

Hello, thank you for taking the time to read. We need your help. Allow me to tell you about a man. Yes, that very statement seems opaque at best, but let me explain the significance. Christopher Zilar, 57, has dedicated his life to helping others. He studied education and then went on to get his Masters. Christopher worked to try in any and every way he could for fourteen years to end or at least reduce unnecessary suffering at the Spokane Regional Health Center. He is the kind of guy that could have the most hectic and nerve wrenching day of his own and yet, while running errands before heading home to his family that he wishes he could see more of, he sees you pulled over on a cold and rainy night with your hazard lights flashing, and he would be the first to pull over and offer a helping hand. Mr. Zilar then took a job as the Director of Vocational Rehabilitation for Spokane Tribe of Indians. Sure, a pessimist might say, “Ok, he helps people get jobs, that’s cool I suppose”. However, Christopher Zilar is the type of “person”, I refer to him as “a” or rather “The” Human Being, that would sit you down, ask you about yourself. What you’ve done in the past, your beliefs, your views on life. Not simply, “What would you like to be when you grow up?”, but rather, “I see you have experience with this or with that, and how did you like that? Was it a good fit for you? Did it light a passion within you or was it merely a job? What drives you? What makes you tick? Is it important to you to get satisfaction from your career?”  I mean, WoW. I don’t know about any of you readers, but I know I would have given anything to have a conversation like that with ANYONE, at any point in my career. To have a chance to do something that ignites your very Soul. And, Christopher takes what he does very seriously. Because helping people is what he is about. Now, that being said, Mr. Zilar has been married for over twenty years, to the love of his life. I know, people who write always write sentiments like that to persuade the readers. But No. All the many people in his life both friends and family, (and seriously, if you’re lucky enough to be his friend, he considers you family) would roll their eyes, and try their best to hide the little pangs of jealousy when they hear him talk about or better yet, see him with his wife Leanne. If, Romeo and Juliet had grown up to be Christopher’s age, they’d be jealous of how much they both are still so in love. “Passion Paradise”, is what Leanne has so aptly named their home. It’s quite a drive from both of their jobs, however, when you see it and set foot on their property, you feel it. It’s a home full of passion, honesty, integrity and unconditional love. And what’s even better? Christopher and Leanne have six wonderful children. Nehemiah Is 32, their older twins Jedidiah And Zebulon who are 31, their daughter Miranda is 29, and the younger set of twins Ariel and Gabriel are 17. Personally, I am in awe of the fact that they had the courage for such a large family. I bring it up only because they raised six wonderful Human Beings and not only showed them what family is supposed to be, but also showed them what true love can look like and that it doesn’t have to end. Please, do not be jealous, be in awe, but not jealous. What Christopher and Leanne have created is nothing short of miraculous, however, none of it was accidental or lucky. They both are two of the hardest working people you will ever meet. Due to life and work and family, Christopher has been dealing with back issues for years. And it has all caught up with him quickly and very painfully. Christopher Zilar has 5 degenerating vertebrae and 2 ruptured discs. Now, can you see what I meant when I began with “Let me tell you about a Man?” This life lived with passion and love for his wonderful family and pretty much anyone that knows him, that was earned with hard work has put him in a very bad way. He has never allowed himself to slow down, he couldn’t, a life lived of and for service doesn’t slow down for anyone. Yet, Christopher is in a bad way. The surgeons want to operate very soon. But, not only would that slow him down even more, there is no real guarantee that it will make anything better or simply stop it from getting worse at the rate it has been going. Christopher does not take any pain meds; he is not a man that wants his life fuzzy or deadened in any way. His back has brought him to the point where he cannot tie his own shoes or walk even 50 feet. There is another option though. Doctors have discussed trying to inject a nerve block and then use Stem cells to attack the inflammation and it would help rebuild the discs as well. It is amazing how far medicine and treatments have come over the years. However, here is the issue. Like most of us, finances are always the hardest part of anything especially when it is anything medical. Christopher and Leanne’s daughter had a stroke a few years back and they are still struggling to get that paid off or even down. As most of us men, Christopher struggles with asking for help. The one Man who would literally give someone the shirt off his back and then drive them to their destination, has a hard time asking for the help he would give everyone else.
I can only imagine, how emotionally challenging this would be. I know in my own life what it is like to go from always being on the move, to being couch ridden. After an accident years ago, I got depressed and I struggled. I don’t know what I would have done if I had not had the people in my life that I had at the time. Christopher merely wants to be able to open the car door for his beautiful bride and it frustrates him that Leanne is working four jobs right now. Christopher was the oldest of seven children, and he has always been the caregiver. The bottom line is the FDA has not given their utmost approval on the stem cell treatment that would give Christopher and his family the best outcome. The cost may seem somewhat small to some who have had medical issues in the past of their own, however, the $6500.00 it will cost is not covered at all by insurance. So, the doctors and medical staff would require the money up front, because they know they won’t be billing anyone’s insurance carrier. So, to any of you that know Christopher and Leanne and their wonderful family, that if you do know them, they probably consider you apart of. Or if you are merely reading this about a stranger you have never met. I humbly ask you to help in any way you possibly can. If you can do $50 or $20 or even if we could get 6500 people to donate $1 each. With enough people, anything can be accomplished. Please help. Please show this family that there are still other Human Beings out there that are willing to return the favor, pay it forward or simply just want to be demonstrative with an act of kindness. Thank you for your time and consideration. Let’s show them that Magic and Miracles still happen.