Solano Life: A really cool story

Martin's family has repeatedly told me a story about when he was a little child. I always thought the story was a very good one, perhaps a bit exaggerated, but powerful nonetheless...

When he was about 2 or 3, his family was at a picnic. Martin was playing ball by a small lake with one of his brothers. When it was time to go, his brother called him and threw the ball out in the water telling him he was done playing and walked away. Martin went after the ball and drowned. His family insisted that he had literally died. A doctor happened to be passing by and pulled Martin out of the water and saved his life. When Martin's mother tried to find the doctor at the hospital where he said he worked, she was told that no such doctor worked there. She sent a card thanking the person, but never received a response. The family believed that it was an angel who had saved Martin's life.

Martin's mother is visiting us here in Germany right now. Yesterday, it stunned us all when, out of the blue, Martin was contacted by that very angel who saved his life over 30 years ago. And through Facebook, nonetheless!!!

Here is the message trail:

The Martin Solano I'm looking for lived at xxxx xth St in

Chicago, Ill as a child. He would be around 34 yrs old. If

you aren't him, I would appreciate a response to let me

know. If you are him, I would like to hear from you. I'm a

retired paramedic who met you many many years ago

when you were a very young child and just wanted to

know if your gift of life has gone well. If you are the

Martin I'm looking for, I still have the Christmas card your

parents sent me many many years ago. Thank you.

Hello,
I am Martin Solano from that location. It is very coincidental

that you find me in this time because mom is visiting me

from the states. I am in the military currently stationed in

Germany. I have been in the military for fourteen years this

December. I have deployed four times in support of Iraqi

Freedom and am about to deploy again in February.

I was wondering where you knew me from, I remember my

parents talking about a doctor who pulled me out of the water

when I was a young child. Is this you? I would love it if you

wrote back and maybe told me a little bit of information from

where and how you know me.

Thank you,
Martin Solano

Martin,
My name is (deleted for blog post for privacy) and I now live

in Mesa AZ with my wife. I'm the person who pulled you from

the water as a young child but I wasn't a doctor, I was an off

duty paramedic. When we met you were laying face up

underwater, eyes open but unconscious. You weren't breathing

and didn't have a pulse but after a few minutes of CPR, you spit

up some chunks of watermelon and lake water, took a deep

breath and let out a loud cry and started breathing...much to

my relief. There's so much more to this story but not sure how

to tell it. I spent over an hour today writing it out in detail but

after I read it...I don't know, it just sounded so strange...

probably because it was. I'm talking about everything that led

up to me being there at the right time and place to help you.

Maybe another time if you're interested. I really can't believe

the blind luck in finding you ...well your mother had

a lot to do with it too. I've lost many things in my life but

have always been able to hold on to the Christmas card your

mother sent to me the Christmas after you and I met. I

worked many years as a paramedic but your mother is

the only person who ever sent me a card. Please tell her

how much that card ment to me. I've always believed that

things happen for a reason and I think you are living proof

of that. I have always wondered what happened to you and

your family...so, I thought, what the heck...I'll try facebook.

That Christmas card gave me a name and address, a little

guess work and a lot of luck and here we are. I can't imagine

4 tours in Iraq. My war was Viet Nam and thought it was bad...

until your war came to be. My prayers will be you on your

next deployment. So sorry they keep sending you back...

again and again...and again.

Just wondering, are you married, have a family? I hope your

mother is doing well.

He then went on to tell Martin a bit about himself, what he is doing now, and his family. He also expressed a desire to keep in contact. Is that not beautiful??? I love how he asked if Martin's "gift of life has gone well".

It's been amazing to hear Martin analyze his life in the hopes that he has used his gift of life well. He worked as a lifeguard and pulled over 20 children out of the water himself. He had a friend tell him that he was thinking of suicide but Martin helped him to regain hope. Martin has served in the military for almost 14 years. He has 3 beautiful boys and a smokin' hot wife. (Opps, did I write that?) It's an amazing and very humbling thought to know that, were it not for this "angel" being at that place at that time, I would not have the life I now have. And for that I am unmeasurably grateful.

Here's a scrap layout that we sent this newfound friend both as a thank you and also to introduce him to our family: