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One last wish: a father's trek to see his daughter graduate
| Thursday, May 29 2008 10:49 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Jun 2 2008 11:00 AM
Among the family and friends sitting on the sidelines of Bakersfield High School’s Griffith Field — cameras ready — a nurse, two EMTs, a man on a gurney and the man’s wife waited for their moment.
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Ariana Hinojosa, left, gets a congratulatory kiss from her father Gilberto, 54, who is suffering from the effects of a stroke and was able to attend her graduation from Bakersfield High Thursday.
Ariana Hinojosa blows a kiss to her mother and father after walking across the stage Thursday night as she graduates from Bakersfield High School.
After graduating from Bakersfield High School Thursday evening Ariana Hinojosa, left, kisses her fathers hand, Gilberto, 54, who is suffering from the effects of a stroke while her mother Rosa, right, smiles.
Laura Burns, right, an RN at Hoffman Hospice kisses Rosa Hinojosa, while they wait with Rosa's husband Gilberto Hinojosa as they wait for their daughter Ariana to graduate Thursday evening from Bakersfield High School. Gilberto, 54, is suffering from the effects of a stroke and came to the graduation in an ambulance and sat in a gurney during the event.
Their star was in the last row, sixth from the end.
“She said, ‘Mom, it figures. My last name starts with H, and I’m in the last row,’” Rosa Hinojosa remembered her daughter, Ariana, saying before they arrived at graduation Thursday night. Rosa laughed, tears brimming in her eyes.
She patted her husband, Gilberto, as he rested before the excitement.
Gilberto, 54, suffered a stroke a year ago and has since deteriorated. He is under care of Hoffmann Hospice, which arranged for him to attend his daughter’s graduation.
“She (Ariana) laid on my shoulder,” Gilberto recalled, as the EMTs prepared him for the trip from Shafter’s Golden Living Center, “and said, ‘We want you to be there.’”
“Go to graduation — I couldn’t believe it.”
He has lost almost 80 pounds over the last year. Hospice patients generally are given no longer than six months to live, but that isn’t always the case, according to registered nurse Laura Burns.
Still, the family thinks graduation will probably be the last of Ariana’s milestones that Gilberto will attend.
“This will be his last wish,” Rosa said.
Hoffmann Hospice’s transport van pulled onto BHS’ track, and the EMTs pulled Gilberto up to his spot close to the end zone, where he was able to watch all the graduates walk across the stage.
Ariana was somewhere among the mass of navy blue caps and gowns.
Her happiest memories with her father include bicycling every Saturday morning, she said. When the pair went to Texas to visit family, he even let her drive — she was 11.
“My daughter and I are like sister and brother,” Gilberto said.
Rosa held a Kleenex in one hand, disposable camera in the other. He nodded off beneath his baseball cap and several blankets.
“He’s been a good man,” Rose said. “I appreciate him so much.”
As the group waited, she reminisced about when they got married 32 years ago.
He was on vacation in Shafter. “He saw me and said that’s the woman I want to marry, and I had conditions,” she said, chuckling.
She wanted to live in Shafter for at least two more years, and they have really never left.
The last row readied to get their diplomas.
“Gilberto, it’s almost time,” said EMT Tami Prestridge. “Maybe five more minutes, K?”
Rosa pointed out Ariana.
“She’s a sweetie pie,” she said. Gilberto rose up, smiled and put his hand to his mouth to amplify his shout, “Whooohooo!”
Ariana waved and hurried over shortly after.
“Are you having a good time?” she said in his ear, crying.
She held up an extra tassel.
“Look, I got it for you. You can put it in your room.”
Gilberto tired, but smiled.
“She’s committed,” he said. “I’m very proud of her.”