Support Steve Gonzales and Family Heart Transplant Journey

As a family, we would like to start our account of our Dad’s heart recovery by saying thank you all for sending well wishes and holding us up in prayer. This is a battle where we know God is our King; we follow Him, and all of you are our support. We love you all.

Dad’s heart has been very good to him for 34 years after his first cardiac arrest at the age of thirty-five. At age thirty-nine, after collapsing from a second cardiac arrest at the beach, a quadruple bypass was necessary. In the healing of God’s power, his beautiful love for life, and his continued positive outlook on life, he has touched and mentored not just his family, but many young and old. He has been able to diligently work hard, be the best husband, greatest dad, and cherished Poppi. He is an example of valuable leadership. Without apology, He loves and trusts the Lord and will always share how much Jesus loves us.

Recently, on May 17 of this year, he experienced, yet, another cardiac arrest at home and our mom kept him alive by applying chest compressions until help arrived. After being ambulanced to UCLA and days and days of intense testing and blood work, it has been advised he is a candidate for a heart transplant. His heart is greatly damaged and tired and any other intervention would not be successful. Waiting for a compatible heart will take weeks or months. He has to remain in the hospital for continued observations and preparations for the unknown day of surgery.

There are costs that are unimaginable in spite of insurance coverages. Mom and Dad will have to live close to UCLA for several months after surgery because the new heart needs special attention for Dad’s survival. An apartment or an AirBNB will be necessary in the very near future. At the moment Mom will be having to travel from Orcutt to UCLA intermittently to maintain household responsibilities and be with Dad in the hospital.

We hope you find encouragement in knowing the success of such technology. We know God has our “every day” and will never leave us. Dad’s wishes are to prolong his life in the most healthy way possible to watch his six grandkids grow, have careers and get married.

We would like to share Mom’s favorite Bible verse:

PROVERBS 16:9

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

Thank you from the hearts of the Gonzales family

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