Liver Transplant Survivor Opens Cafe in Apopka to Help Others in the US and Latin America

APOPKA, FL, November 18, 2012

Richard, an extremely active and healthy 35-year-old father and husband, was suddenly feverish and in severe pain. The family would find out that, ironically, he and the doctor Richard had eaten with were stricken with the Hepatitis A virus. As his health quickly deteriorated, the doctors at Larkin Memorial Hospital in South Florida had him transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in need of a liver transplant.

Richard's family gathered knowing the doctors only gave him mere 48-hours to survive without a new organ. Mimi, Chloe, Ricky, and Richard's older children, Yeaileen and Xavier, clung to the side of Richard's bed praying for a healthy liver to become available. Twenty-four hours into the vigil a liver donor passed away, but that organ was tainted with Hepatitis C. The family's hopes were dashed.

The vigil began again. Fortunately for Richard, a man with a compatible liver type and in the same hospital, died on September 22, 2006. Richard underwent a five-hour-long transplant procedure that was deemed a total success.

Unfortunately, Richard had slipped into coma as he was rushed into the operating room. After the surgery, Richard was non-responsive and did not come out of the coma. The doctors feared the worse, that after surviving long enough for a viable organ to become available and then surviving the arduous surgery, that he would have damage to his brain. His family started their prayer vigil again, this time for him to awaken from his comatose state and to be well of mind so he could continue to pursue his calling into the ministry.

Mimi and her mother anointed Richard with oil and prayed incessantly. His 7-year-old son, Ricky, said, "The hardest part was staying in the hospital all night for over two-months." While he was still in critical condition, on November 25th, Richard's wife cried and begged him to respond to her. "He looked directly at me and smiled!" is all she can say. While his wife was praying at church on Sunday, November 26, two-months and four days after undergoing that life-saving operation, Richard fully awoke from the coma and was responsive.

Mimi and Richard, recently ordained as pastors of Ministerio Internacional Luz de las Naciones, have dedicated the rest of their lives to educating people about organ transplantation, spreading the Word, and building churches in Latin America. They will celebrate the grand opening of their cafe in Apopka with a benefit Voices of Hope, Singing for a Cause on December 1, 2012 from 4-8 pm. They celebrate Richard's successful liver transplant for the rest of their lives.

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Part of the proceeds from the Singing for a Cause and the operation of Ricky's Latin Cafe will go to The American Liver Foundation. The "mission is to facilitate, advocate, and promote education, support, and research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease. Currently more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the United States. Donated livers come from living and non-living donors. Living donors donate a part of their livers. The donated and the remaining part of the donor's liver will grow to the size the body needs in weeks." A timely liver transplant saved the life of Ricky's Latin Cafe's owner Richard Ramos. Information on ALF can be located at http://www.liverfoundation.org.

Ministerio Internacional Luz de las Naciones at http://www.luzdelasnaciones.org is Light of the Nations International Ministry in English. Pastors Mimi and Richard Ramos say that, "We breathe and live with a purpose: To share the gospel with everyone possible and by using all means. MILN provides shoes, clothing, education, and other basic human needs in Latin American Countries for children, widows, and destitute."

Donations from the event will go directly to the charities. Information and applications can be found at http://www.facebook.com/RickysLatinCafe.

Event information—at http://www.facebook.com/RickysLatinCafe.
Contact: Richard Ramos, 407-749-2928, RickysLatinCafe@Yahoo.com
Voices of Hope, Singing for a Cause, Benefiting American Liver Foundation and Ministerio Internacional Luz de las Naciones, December 1, 2012, 4-8 pm, Ricky's Latin Cafe 925 S Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, 32703
Who: Singers 5-20
What: Singing for Cause—Voices of Hope benefit for liver transplants and building churches in Latin America
Where: Ricky's Latin Cafe 925 S Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32703
When: December 1, 2012 from 4-8 pm
How: Proceeds from donations and food sales to benefit the causes.

Alternate contact, 954-559-0192