Determination and courage fuel MC student to succeedNovember 15, 2017

In 1998, Cinthia Silva was 15 years old and pregnant.  At the age of 18, she was diagnosed with lupus.  In 2001, she and her husband Jorge immigrated to the United States from Mexico with their young daughter Stephanie, but Cinthia’s health was deteriorating rapidly.  Her kidneys started to fail, and by 2005, she was undergoing dialysis treatments three times per week. 

Sixteen years later, in 2017, Cinthia Silva is now a graduate of Midland College and is working as a teller at Wells Fargo Bank on the corner of the Andrews Highway and Whitney in Midland.  Her inspirational story is one of determination and courage.

“When I first came to the United States, I never dreamed I would be where I am today,” said 35-year-old Silva.  “This definitely wasn’t in my plans.”

After moving to Midland, Jorge obtained employment in the Permian Basin oil industry, and Cinthia got a job working at Bush’s Chicken.  She would get Stephanie to school and report to work from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Three times each week, she would then go directly to her dialysis treatments at 2:30 p.m.

“My life was so busy, and I didn’t have much time to learn English.  So in 2009, I enrolled in ESL [English as a Second Language] classes at the Midland College Cogdell Learning Center,” explained Silva.  “For two years, I took classes to improve my English.  The instructors at Cogdell were terrific, especially Luisa Nail and Janet Rubins.” 

By fall 2011, Silva’s ESL instructors convinced her to take the high school equivalency exam (formerly known as the GED® exam).  After passing the exam, Silva decided that she wanted to continue her education, and she enrolled in college classes at Midland College, working toward a degree in Small Business Management. 

Cinthia Silva’s determination and talents did not go unnoticed.  She was soon hired as a part-time lab assistant and tutor in the Midland College Language Hub.

“I couldn’t take many classes at one time because of my health,” said Silva. “I also had to study really hard.  Sometimes I had to read things two and three times because I was translating the English words in my textbooks to Spanish in my head.  I didn’t understand everything my instructors would say, but they were always willing to explain things to me after class.  They are part of my success.

“I was also still going to dialysis three times per week,” explained Silva.  “On the days that I had my dialysis treatments, I would go to class in the mornings, and then have dialysis in the afternoons.  When I got home, I was exhausted.  I was too tired to do homework and study.”

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the average life expectancy for someone on dialysis is 5 to 10 years.  By 2015, Cinthia Silva had been undergoing dialysis treatments for 10 years, and the procedures were taking a toll on her.  During the last few years of her dialysis treatments, she said that there were times when she didn’t think she could keep going, and she credits her family and the faculty and staff at Midland College with giving her the encouragement she needed to stay in school.   Then, in 2015 at the age of 33, Silva received the wonderful news from her nephrologist that she had been approved for a kidney transplant.

“I feel so blessed to have received a kidney,” exclaimed Silva.  “I don’t know who the donor is—all I was told was that it was a deceased female.  

“My lupus is now in remission,” continued Silva.  “I truly am thankful.  At the dialysis center, I would see people without fingers and legs.  I thanked God after every treatment that my body was complete.”

In December 2016, Cinthia Silva, who couldn’t speak any English when she came to Midland as a young 18-year-old mother and who had undergone 10 grueling years on dialysis before receiving a kidney transplant, graduated from Midland College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Small Business Management. 

“2016 was a great year for my family,” said Silva.  “My daughter graduated from Midland High School in May of that year, and then I graduated from Midland College in December.  My mother even came from Chihuahua, Mexico to attend my graduation.” 

Cinthia Silva is still attending Midland College.  She is now working toward a baccalaureate degree in Organizational Management.  She and her husband Jorge have been married for 20 years, and their daughter Stephanie is at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin studying petroleum engineering.   Approximately three weeks ago, Cinthia began working as a teller at Wells Fargo Bank, and she is looking forward to a career in the banking industry when she completes her baccalaureate degree.

While her lupus is in remission, Silva says that she has to get plenty of rest and control her emotions, as fatigue and extreme excitement or depression can cause the lupus symptoms to resurface. 

“I have the opportunity to open my eyes in the morning,” said Silva.  “Every day I thank God for another day.”