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Jacqui - San Antonio, TX

Jacqui and her father live in Miami, Florida so that Jacqui can be near doctors who are working to restore her vision and the use of her hands. In the upcoming months, Jacqui will undergo more transplants and plans to meet with a team of surgeons to talk about the feasibility of a face transplant.

Jacqui will be 28 years old next December 20.

Message from Jacqui

Hola a todos... Necesito pedirles un favor a cada uno de ustedes... Yo me salvé porque Dios así lo quiso, por el amor de todos ustedes y por sus constantes rezos... Ahora les pido que recen por mi mamá... ella tiene cáncer en los huesos y vamos a luchar contra esto... ustedes nunca me han fallado... siempre han estado apoyándome de una u otra forma... y estoy segura que el Señor nos va a escuchar... ¡¡¡Muchas gracias!!! ¡¡¡De corazón!!! y ¡¡¡Manos a la obra!!!

Aprovecho de comentarles sobre una dirección decorreo nueva a la que pueden escribirme: jacquisagar@gmail.com. Por favor, no me escriban mas a la anterior ya que no funciona.

Los quiere,

Jacqui

Hello everyone.... I need to ask a favor from all and each one of you. I’ve survived because God wanted to, because the love of all of you and your constant prayers. Now I’d like to ask you to pray for my mom. She’s got bone cancer and we’ll be fighting against it... You’ve never failed me... You have always supported me... I'm sure God will listen to us.... Thank you very much!!! From the bottom of my heart!!! Let’s go to work!!!

I'll take advantage of this message to let you know about my new e-mail address where you can write to me: jacquisagar@gmail.com Please, do not mail me to my other one since is not functional any more.

All my love,
Jacqui

June 6, 2005

Hola a todos...

Sé que los tengo un poco abandonados y les pido disculpas. De ahora en adelante voy hacer todo lo posible por escribirles mas seguido. Hoy, 3 de Junio de 2005, me encuentro en mi casa de Caracas. Contenta de estar aquí con mis amigos y mi familia. Esta es la primera vez que paso tanto tiempo seguido aquí. En parte estoy muy contenta ya que tengo un poco de estabilidad, pero por otro lado ha sido un poco duro empezar a enfrentarme con la realidad. He tenido tiempos bien difíciles, sobre todo el mes de noviembre del año pasado. Pero lo importante es que poco a poco voy mejorando, sin negar que hay altibajos que con el tiempo y el amor de todas las personas que me quieren, se pueden superar.

Durante todo este tiempo he aprendido muchas cosas, de las cuales quiero compartir un par con ustedes: Hay momentos difíciles pero estos no son eternos... El que lucha por algo en esta vida con constancia y perseverancia tarde o temprano lo consigue (por experiencia propia)... La vida esta compuesta de etapas, y lo más importante es vivir cada una de estas con total intensidad... Las etapas de la vida al igual que tienen un comienzo, tienen un fin, no traten de mantenerse en una de ellas, al contrario, sigan el ciclo y pasen a la siguiente, porque de lo contrario se perderán lo que depara la próxima... Cuando estén pasando por un gran problema, vivan su luto, lloren y desahóguense, pero después hay que continuar...

En cuanto a mis tratamientos y cirugías; ya me operaron el ojo derecho de cataratas y puedo ver mucho mejor GRACIAS A DIOS! (bueno sin olvidar que es todo un sacrificio diario mantenerlos en función, pero no hay otra forma)... Con decirles que ya estoy manejando. Estoy SUPER FELIZ !!! ya que puedo salir y entrar cuando quiero. Aunque hay veces que no tomo el riesgo debido a que amanezco con poca visión. Pero lo importante es que poco a poco todo va saliendo bien. En el dedo meñique de mi mano izquierda tengo ahora un tutor para alargarlo. Se me ha infectado varias veces, pero se ha podido solucionar el problema. Aunque no lo crean, estoy un poco mas delgada... jájájájájá.... Es que me encantan las chucherías y el refresco.

Por otro lado, tengo muchos planes que quiero empezar y concluir, como son: estoy en la búsqueda de realizar una carrera online, ya que no puedo radicarme ahora aquí definitivamente. Quiero mejorar mi inglés, escribir un libro donde les contaré abiertamente de mí, seguir con la campaña de NO TOMES Y MANEJES, y por supuesto, traerla a mi país. Tengo en mente hacer un par de charlas. Aquí en Caracas, ya he hecho varias y me gusto mucho. Me sentí muy querida. Y próximamente iré a mi colegio... He tenido varias invitaciones, y le pido disculpas aquellas personas que no les he podido ayudar, pero es un poco difícil responder a todo el mundo.

Finalmente, les escribo mi dirección de correo electrónico: jacquisaburido@hotmail.com Por medio de ésta me podrán contactar. Recuerden que no puedo contestarles a todos, pero con seguridad, ningún correo quedará sin ser leído.

Cuídense mucho, sean felices, diviértanse pero, NO TOMEN Y MANEJEN

Con cariño

Jacqui

June 6, 2005

Hello to all,

I know I have abandoned you a little and I ask for your forgiveness. From now on I am going to try to write more often. Today, June 3, 2005, I am at my house in Caracas. I am happy to be here with my family and friends. This is the first time that I have spent so much time here since the accident. Part of me is very happy to have some stability, but it has been hard to start facing reality. I have had very difficult times, particularly in November of last year. But the important thing is that I am slowly getting better, without denying there that there are ups and downs, with time and love of all the people that love me, I can overcome the difficulties.

During this time I have learned a lot of things that I want to share with you: there are hard times, but hard times are not for ever. One that fights for something with perseverance sooner or later can achieve it (I talk from experience)…. Life is a series of phases, and the important thing is to live each one of these with intensity… Phases have a beginning and an end… don’t try to stay in one, on the contrary, continue the cycle and go on to the next one,… When you are facing a big problem, live your grief, cry, vent, but then go on….

Regarding my treatments and my surgeries; I had cataract surgery on my right eye and I, THANK GOD, I can see much better (well without forgetting it is a daily sacrifice to maintain the eyes functioning, but there is not other way). And I am already driving. I am THRILLED! I can come and go as I please. But some days I can’t take the risk, because my vision is poor. But the important thing is that little by little everything is getting better. In my left pinky I have now an implant to make it longer. It has gotten infected several times, but the problem has been solved. Believe it or not, I am thinner, … ha, ha, ha,…. I like junk food and soda too much!

I have a lot of plans that I want to start like: Looking for a career online, because for the moment, I can’t stay here permanently. I want to improve my English, write a book in which I would talk openly about my experience, continue with the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign, and bring it to my country. I intend to give a couple of speeches. Here in Caracas I have given a few and I have enjoyed it. I have had several invitations, and I apologize to those people to whom I was not able to accommodate, it is a little hard to answer to everybody.

Finally I will give you my email address: jacquisaburido@hotmail.com. You can contact me through email. Remember that although I cannot answer all emails, be assured that no email would go unread.

Take care of yourselves, be happy, have fun but DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Con carino

Jacqui

DISCRIMINACIÓN EN CARACAS (VENEZUELA)

El sábado 15 de enero de 2005, después de pasar 5 años sin contacto alguno con una discoteca en Venezuela, debido a un accidente en 1999 ocasionado por un borracho que cambio mi vida para siempre, decidí salir con mis amigos a divertirme. Al llegar al Centro Comercial San Ignacio, donde se encuentra el local llamado "THE LOFT" y después de una hora de espera aproximadamente, el encargado de la puerta nos dijo que mis amigos podían entrar, pero ¡YO NO!, ya que según él yo me encontraba en un estado delicado de salud, al mismo tiempo dijeron que en caso de que ocurriera una pelea ellos no querían que yo resultara lesionada.

Ahora bien, la pregunta es: ¿Cómo me sentí yo? ¿Será que me sentí agradecida por su preocupación o será que me sentí discriminada por estar quemada y no tener una "buena apariencia"? Pues en un primer momento me sentí agradecida por su interés hacia lo que ellos juzgaron mi delicada salud, pero luego de pasar un rato y de hablar con mis amigos que ya habían entrado, ellos me explicaron las condiciones en las que la mencionada discoteca se encontraba esa noche, y éstas no implicaban en lo absoluto ningún peligro para mi persona, por lo tanto, resulta claro que fui DISCRIMINADA y que así me sentí, ya que explico y reitero que el local estaba vacío y tenía suficiente seguridad.

Esta decisión que tomaron va en contra de los derechos humanos ¿o es que acaso yo no lo soy, acaso no tengo derecho a salir a divertirme y olvidarme de las 50 cirugías a las que mi cuerpo a tenido que ser sometido? ¿No era ya suficiente salir y tener que enfrentar a todas aquellas personas que de una u otra forma me miraban, para por encima ir a la discoteca "THE LOFT" y hacerme sentir como un ser que la sociedad no puede aceptar y que tiene que resignarse a quedarse en su casa? Otros quizá pensarían que yo a mí misma me diría o me dije: Jacqueline quédate en tu casa porque no te van permitir la entrada a cualquiera otro local que vayas… Pues NO, yo junto a mis amigos me di la vuelta y nos dirigimos a otro lugar donde real y justamente permitieran mi entrada sin alegar al respecto, ¡y así fue! Fuimos a varios locales y NINGUNO prohibió mi entrada hasta que escogimos entrar al local de nombre "Opium" donde fui atendida excelentemente, con el cariño y debido respeto que yo y cualquier otro ser humano nos merecemos; aunado a esto, trataron de que la pasara bien y que me sintiera a gusto, por lo que les doy las gracias.

Al mismo tiempo me senté a pensar. ¿ Es que acaso no pudo haber una solución menos hiriente? …Claro que sí! Si fueran humanos me hubiesen podido decir que les preocupaba mi condición, pero ofreciéndome posibles alternativas, como por ejemplo: ella puede entrar, pero necesitamos que se encuentre en un lugar con poco volumen de personas para evitar alguna lesión; o tal vez, al estar el local vacío estamos tranquilos porque hay menos riesgo, pero si se llegara a llenarse nos preocupa que le suceda algo, le ofrecemos por tanto mil disculpas, pero por su seguridad nosotros consideramos que será mejor que se mantenga en un lugar seguro o que se vaya; otra solución hubiese podido ser el asignarme un lugar donde con gente o sin gente yo estuviese protegida y pudiese disfrutar de su local y ambiente junto a mis amigos.

Hoy me pregunto si ser de otra religión, sexo o partido político es considerado y juzgado a la entrada de la discoteca "THE LOFT", porque lamentablemente una respuesta cierta es que la apariencia física y no la condición humana es el requisito que a dicho local le interesa.

Si es cierto para mi es que si yo no tuviese la fortaleza y coraje, con el que me nutre cada día Dios, estaría deprimida, llorando sin querer salir de mi casa, o quizá me hubiese querido haber suicidado por una humillación como a la que fui sometida. Pero no fue así! porque yo sé cuanto valgo y nada ni nadie me detendrá hacer valer mis derechos y a continuar con la gran misión por la cual Dios me dejó en este planeta, por una falta de consciencia, consideración y corazón de parte de los miembros de la discoteca "LOFT", y muy en especial el Gerente, que no saben qué es vivir como vivo yo y lamentablemente no les importó en lo absoluto cómo es que me sentí.

Con todo esto quiero hacerles llegar a cada uno de ustedes que están leyendo ahora este artículo, para que sepan a la situación a la que me enfrenté sin ningún tipo de consideración. No podemos seguir permitiendo que sigamos siendo discriminados. Ya es tiempo de ponerle un parado a este tipo de cosas que nos afectan diariamente. Basta YA! de la falta de consideración por los demás. Todos vivimos, sentimos y padecemos por lo que debemos de apoyarnos unos a los otros y no humillarnos. Acuérdense de algo, no hay nada escrito en esta vida que diga y garantice de cual será nuestro destino…

DISCRIMINATION IN CARACAS (VENEZUELA)

On Saturday January 15, 2005, after not having going to a club in Venezuela, because of a 1999 accident caused by a drunk driver that changed my life forever, I decided to go out with my friends to have some fun. We arrived to the Commercial Center San Ignacio, where a club called “THE LOFT” is located. After waiting for approximately one hour, the person at the door, informed us that my friends could go in but that I COULD NOT! According to him, I was in “fragile health” and he stated that they did not want me to get hurt in case there was a fight inside the club.

Now the question is: How did I feel? Did I feel thankful for his concern or did I feel discriminated against because I am burned and do not have a “good appearance”? Well, at first I felt thankful for his interest in what it was judged as my “fragile health”, but after some time passed and I talked to one of my friends that had gone inside the club, I was told about the club and was told there was absolutely no danger to me. It is clear then that I was DISCRIMINATED against, and that is the way I felt. The club was empty and there was enough security.

This decision made by employees of THE LOFT goes against human rights. Or am I not a human being that has the right to go out and have some fun after the 50 surgeries I have to endure? Was it not enough having to go out and dealing with everybody looking at me? On top of that THE LOFT made me feel like I am a being that society can’t accept and that has to stay inside her house. Some people may think that I told myself: “Jacqueline, stay at home because they are not going to let you in anywhere”. Well, no. My friends and I turned around and went to another place in which I was allowed to go without arguing with anybody. It turns out we went to several places and none of them prohibited me from going in. We finally decided to go into a place called “Opium” where I was treated in an excellent way, with the care and respect that I and any other human being deserves; they accommodated me to have a good time and be comfortable, and I thanked them for this.

At the same time I was thinking: Couldn’t people at THE LOFT have found a less hurtful solution for me? Of course they could have! If they were human beings they could have expressed their concerns for my condition, but they would have offered me alternatives, like for example: she can come in, but we would need for her to be in a place where there are not too many people to prevent her from getting hurt; or maybe, said something like, since the place is almost empty we are confident you will be o.k., but if it starts to get crowded, we would like for your to go to a safer place or to leave; another solution would have been for them to offer me, with or without a crowd, a safe place where I could have had some fun and enjoyed the place with my friends.

Today I ask myself if being from a different religion, sex or political party, is considered and judged at the entrance of the club “THE LOFT”, because regrettably it is clear that physical appearance, an not the human condition, is what matters to the place.

What it is true for me is that if it had not been for my strength, my determination and my faith in God, that nurtures me everyday, I would have been depressed, crying everyday without wanting to get out of my house, or maybe I could have wanted to kill myself after the great humiliation I suffered. But that was not the case! Because I know how much I am worth and noting or nobody is going to stop me from making my rights count and from continuing with the great mission that God has for me and for which he allowed me to stay in this planet. The lack of consideration and compassion from the people at “THE LOFT” particularly by the general manager, who does not know how it is to live like this, shows that they did not care at all for the way I felt.

By writing this I want to let you all who are now reading this article , of the situation I had to endure without any consideration. We cannot allow discrimination. It is about time to stop this type of situation, that affects us everyday. Enough of the lack of consideration towards others. We all live, feel and suffer, so we all have to help each other and not humiliate each other. Remember that in this life there is nothing in writing that guaranties which would your destiny be….

News Archive >

 


See Jacqui at Oprah now...

"Indomitable Jacqui Saburido tells her story to Oprah"

By Diane Holloway
From THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN On TV

Published November 17, 2003

The theme for Wednesday's "Oprah" is "Split-Second Decisions That Changed a Life," and surely no one has been more affected by such a decision than Jacqui Saburido.

On Sept. 19, 1999, just three weeks after Saburido came to Austin from her native Venezuela to study English, she was riding in a car with friends on RM 2222 when a drunken driver struck the vehicle. Reginald Stephey, a Lake Travis High School student, had decided to get behind the wheel of his GMC Yukon after a night of partying.

Saburido was pinned in the car and burned so severely, over 60 percent of her body, that rescue workers initially thought she was dead. Her face was destroyed. Two other passengers were killed. Stephey was unhurt. Two years later he was convicted of intoxication manslaughter and is serving a seven-year sentence in prison.

First up and featured more prominently than other guests on Wednesday's "Oprah" is Saburido, who talks about what happened to her and what her life is like now. Taped Oct. 29 in Chicago, the show includes an appearance by Reginald's mother, Jean Stephey, who wept and apologized for her son's actions.

"The greatest moment for me was when Jacqui hugged Jean Stephey and comforted her," said David Hafetz, the former Austin American-Statesman reporter who wrote a 16-page story about Saburido in this newspaper last year called "Chasing Hope" and attended the taping. "That's how Jacqui goes on. She's able to forgive and not be bitter. She really is a super woman."

A spokeswoman for Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions said Jean Stephey tells the talk-show host that if she could change anything about that fateful night, she would have told her son to call her for a ride.

Saburido's story came to Winfrey's attention in part through Hafetz's story, which appeared May 12, 2002, in a special section of the American-Statesman. Winfrey flew Hafetz to Chicago for the taping, although he is not interviewed on the show. He sat in the audience next to Jacqui's father, Amadeo Saburido, and several other people who have been part of Jacqui's post-wreck life and recovery.

The segment begins with a video, some of which was shot in Austin, that includes interviews with rescue and medical personnel who tended to Jacqui. There is also a taped interview with Reggie Stephey and footage of Jacqui and her father at their home in Louisville, Ky. The segment uses some of the still photos of Jacqui that were shot by American-Statesman photographer Rodolfo Gonzalez for Hafetz's story.

This isn't Saburido's first TV appearance. She filmed spots for an ad campaign against drunken driving that aired nationwide last fall and again in July. Hafetz said Jacqui had an especially good time filming her talk-show debut in Chicago.

"We got together the night before the taping, and she was excited about riding around in a limo," Hafetz said. "She had a suite at the Four Seasons and went touring in Chicago after the taping. She's so much fun to be around."

After the accident, Jacqui, now 24, spent several months in a burn unit in Galveston, where she underwent multiple surgeries. She and her father, who is her full-time caretaker, moved to Louisville to be near a team of doctors who are still trying to help her.

Jacqui now has improved vision in her left eye and partial vision in her right eye. She lost most of both hands in the fire, but operations have separated parts of the stumps so she can do more for herself. Amadeo, who left his air-conditioning business in Venezuela to live with his daughter, is relieved to see improvement.

"Taking care of her is his life's work, and he worries about the future," Hafetz said.

Hafetz, who left the American-Statesman in July to pursue free-lance work in New York, is thinking about writing a book about Jacqui. He has stayed in touch with her, talking on the phone with her at least once a month."I think Jacqui's in my life to stay, at least I hope so," Hafetz said. "It's moved way beyond reporting — she's a good friend. Being around her naturally changes you. Initially it gives you a dose of reality: Whatever problems you have probably aren't that serious. She goes through depression and struggles, but she genuinely enjoys her life every day. And that infectious joy stays with you."

To read "Chasing Hope," the American-Statesman story about Jacqui Saburido, visit statesman.com/jacqui.

dholloway@statesman.com; 445-3608

 

RELATED LINKS

Austin American Statesman newspaper


NPR

 


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