MAY: A ROLLER COASTER.

It is like this: like a roller coaster that raises and lowers you violently, shakes you, laughs, and cries. You face it with joy and also with fear.

May. The month of contrasts, of immense joys and terrible sadness. Of unforeseen events never expected; of distressingly awaited events. Of pain and joy. Goodbye and welcome.

Today, May 7th, 2020, four years ago the fatal event that would lead to the physical disappearance of a young man, almost a child, full of life, joy, spontaneity, love, kindness, and how many virtues can accompany a wonderful Human Being. His name, Owen. Barely 20 years old, those who lived intensely for the joy and pride of his family, his friends, and acquaintances. So much so that it will be impossible to forget each and every one of his days. So much so that it can never be replaced by anything or anyone.

In an unexpected way, he fell into a comatose state after having a few drinks with some friends, from which he would never return. He was hospitalized and assisted with all current medical aid but was useless.

May 13th, 2016, the family is notified of the worst they could hope for: brain death; it would have to be disconnected from the machines that kept it with artificial life.

They reminded his mother, Jane, that he was a voluntary organ donor and they had to act immediately. Owen and his family's honor had to be respected and she gave her approval at an unspeakable heartbreaking moment.

That beautiful and good spirit rose to the Infinite, to the Cosmos, with the promise of never forgetting his own, while his physical body generously gave his organs to renew the lives of other people.


May 14th, 2016, Saturday, 00 hours, Nila Murillo-Argudo was preparing for a liver transplant that would save her life almost extinct then. In an extremely complicated and high-risk surgery, Nila received Owen's liver that would give her a new lease on life. At 06 hours she was transferred to Intensive Care after six hours of intense work by the Transplant team at Mount Saint Hospital in New York, accomplished with absolute success.

You can imagine the enormous joy that was the result of that surgery! This beautiful woman who had given me so much love, so many beautiful moments of life, was very, very close to death, but the generosity of an extraordinary being like Owen when deciding to be a donor allowed her a new life, a new birth.

That's what May is such a complicated month.

New York, May 7th, 2020

Ivan.