For 57-year-old Jaime Serrano, there was nothing more important than family.
A resident of DePue, Ill., Jaime enjoyed spending time with his loved ones and being an avid sports fan.
“He was a big sports fanatic,” says his daughter, Viridiana Garcia. He was really into basketball and baseball, but soccer was his favorite. I always tell my kids they get their athleticism from him.”
Jaime was also handy, always working on different projects and looking for ways to improve the Serrano family home.
“He would come home from work and always have a project going on,” Viridiana recalls. “Whether it was the porch, a shed, or any other addition to the house, he saw it as his home and he wanted to improve it as much as he could.”
But those closest to Jaime mattered most.
“Family was very big for him,” Viridiana says. “He had a lot of extended family, and when I was growing up, we saw them all the time. They were like first cousins to me.”
Jaime’s focus on family and friends didn’t end at visits. He made everyone around him feel welcome.
“He had a great personality,” says Viridiana. “He was such an easygoing person, never raised his voice, never butted heads with anyone and loved cracking jokes. I couldn’t tell you one person who didn’t like him.”
That reputation followed Jaime everywhere he went.
“I remember one time when he was visiting Mexico, there was a person in town who had a blind father and a blind son,” Viridiana says. “My dad won a 50/50 raffle and gave all the money to that family. He gave what he could to those in need.”
In January 2021, Jaime tested positive for COVID-19. At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal.
“At the time, we had already been a year into the pandemic,” says Viridiana. “Others had already had it, so we didn’t see it as a big deal. I figured he would be fine.”
Jaime’s situation continued to deteriorate. He was eventually admitted to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
“The doctors and nurses notified us that covid had destroyed his lungs,” Viridiana remembers. “A double lung transplant was the only option left. Without it, he was going to die.”
His medical team confirmed he was eligible for a transplant, and Jaime was added to that national transplant waiting list. One day, the call came that a matching donor was confirmed and Jaime was next in line to receive a transplant.
“The entire process had been such a long and emotional roller coaster,” Viridiana recalls. “I figured this would be the home stretch. I thought it would take a while for my dad to recover, but I figured things would eventually go back to normal.”
Jaime encountered complications during surgery, causing his brain to swell. Doctors did everything they could to save his life, but were unsuccessful. He passed away on May 4, 2021.
“I didn’t think death was a possibility,” Viridiana recalls. “I was in denial because he had already overcome so much. But by the time all the final testing was done, there was no brain activity left.”
The entire Serrano family was left devastated and heartbroken. Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network was there to help them through the process.
“They were extremely wonderful,” says Viridiana. “It must be so hard to be in the position of talking to a family about organ donation right after they lost a loved one. But the lady we spoke with was very understanding.”
Jaime donated his liver and kidneys, saving three lives. For Viridiana, the decision to donate was an easy one.
“It was an easy decision for us,” Viridiana recalls. “We had been on the recipient side, so when the tables were turned, my dad could help someone else.”
Viridiana also has a message for those considering donation.
“This is a lifesaving act,” says Viridiana. “You’re not only saving somebody else’s life, but a part of your loved one also continues to live on. You’re helping somebody else have a chance at reaching their own goals in life. What better way to leave this world?”
Jaime’s kind, charitable and easygoing nature continues to live on through others, including his daughter. Along with being a donor herself, Viridiana is a member of Gift of Hope’s Ambassador program, where she shares her father’s story while educating others about the benefits of organ donation.
