Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast

Recovery & Resilience

• Holy Family Adrian • Season 1 • Episode 8

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Join us on Open Seat as Veronica Sanchez shares her miraculous journey of faith and resilience. From early childhood immigration to a challenging stroke during her pregnancy, Veronica discusses how her unwavering belief and prayer helped her navigate life's toughest challenges. Listen in as she recounts her family's devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, her involvement in her local church, overcoming severe depression, surviving a major car accident, and the miraculous changes in her life and her husband's through their spiritual connection. This episode is a testament to the power of prayer and the support of loved ones in overcoming adversity.

Vídeo con subtítulos en español 

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

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Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

I had this pain right here in my stomach and my husband was like, Hey, do you want to go to the hospital? And I was like, no, I don't. I'll go away. I'll go away. Until that pain went from my stomach to my head. After I got to the hospital, I just don't remember anything. But from what everyone's telling me, they're like, we just put you in God's hands because it was, it was, it was scary. Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith, unfiltered and unapologetic. Here, we believe that every story matters. Whether you're questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you'll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let's dive into today's story here at Open Seat.

Katie:

So today on Open Seat we have Veronica Sanchez with us today.

Veronica:

Thank you, Katie, for the invitation.

Katie:

Thank you for saying yes, Veronica. So, Let's just jump right in. let's start about early years

Veronica:

So, I was brought over from Mexico, when I was three years old. We went to move to Florida, spent there two years, and then when I was five, we moved to Michigan, and I've been living here ever since.

Katie:

So, you poor thing, you went from Mexico, which was warm, to Florida, which was warm, to

Veronica:

coldness. Yes. Yes.

Katie:

Your parents did not pick well. So, how was it coming from Mexico to the US? Do you remember those moments?

Veronica:

I do not remember anything. When my mom told me that I was not from here, I was confused. I was like, wait, what? I've lived here my whole life. what's going on? And she's like, no, you, you don't have these documents. And I'm like, oh, okay. And so like, When I was 12, we got a letter from the immigration saying, Hey, you've been approved for your green card. And we went to go get the stuff that we needed to get. And from 12 up to 22 that's when I became a citizen.

Katie:

So you gave me the best birthday present I could get which was your citizenship on my birthday. And it was one of the most incredible experiences was being in that room with all those people getting their citizenship at the same time.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

What a blessing. so I thank you for that. That was really a a great birthday present. So how did you start to get involved in the church?

Veronica:

So my parents weren't really church people. And one day they asked him, Hey, do you want to be part of Sociedad Guadalupana? And they're like, sounds, fun. Okay, let's do it. And then, ever since then, they've been involved. And as they're involved, I've been involved.

Katie:

Yeah, so you were a catechist for a very long time, which I'm so grateful for. And now you're moved into the family movement program, right? You're in charge of that?

Veronica:

Yes, we're coordinators Adrian and I.

Katie:

So what does that look like?

Veronica:

It's pretty cool. not gonna lie. it's pretty cool.

Katie:

That's great.

Veronica:

I've been working on my Spanish Because it's all in Spanish and I have a little bit of hard times saying things and I speak mostly in Spanglish So if I can't find the word in Spanish, I just say it in English. But no, I have to have say everything in Spanish. So It's been helping me

Katie:

Oh, this is great. So, when you decided, that you were going to be a catechist, what made you decide to do that? Because You did that really early.

Veronica:

they were just like, hey, they're looking for catechists, and I was, I don't know, something in, me just said I want to do it. So I think it, was with I think a year before John And I was the second grade and then after John came in I was second and third. And then And I was involved in, first communion too.

Katie:

And you've also served on parish council.

Veronica:

Yes, I did.

Katie:

So I hate to out you but can you just tell us your age so we have an idea of how all you've done for the church?

Veronica:

28.

Katie:

That's pretty impressive. That is very impressive actually.

Veronica:

At school, at my job, I always get confused as a student. If I was not wearing that badge, they would not know that I was, an employee.

Katie:

So where do you work? What do you do?

Veronica:

I work at Onsted High School. And I work as a bilingual parapro.

Katie:

So that's probably improving your Spanish a little bit, too, right? And how long have you been doing that?

Veronica:

This is my third year. Yes. Yes.

Katie:

So, you just got married. Yes. And your lovely family consists of your husband and your daughter.

Veronica:

Yes, and our three dogs.

Katie:

Oh, yes, three dogs. Yes, That is just chaos, I would think, but, good luck to you on that one. you. So, Let's talk a little bit about Adelina, because she's the light of your life, right? Yeah. So, how old is she

Veronica:

She is five.

Katie:

Oh, my goodness. That's absolutely crazy because I remember when she was born. Now I sound really old in saying that but let's talk a little bit about her birth.

Veronica:

so her birth wasn't planned the way I wanted it to happen. So back in 2019, I had a stroke. And it happened because my doctor did not tell me that I had preeclampsia. And after I had this pain right here in my stomach and my husband was like, hey do you want to go to the hospital? And I was like, no, I don't. It'll go away. It'll go away Until that pain went from my stomach to my head. We got to the hospital and after I got to the hospital, I just don't remember anything. But from what everyone's telling me, they're like, we just put you in God's hands because, it was, it was, it was scary.

Katie:

Yeah, because you had Adelina. And a stroke pretty much at the same time.

Veronica:

Yes. I had the stroke first and then they were trying to contain the stroke, and then as soon as I got to UofM, they, it did an emergency section.

Katie:

So how long were you in U of M after the stroke? the Like how long were you in the hospital?

Veronica:

A month and a half.

Katie:

And after that month and a half, you still had to learn how to redo everything.

Veronica:

Yeah, I, I could not use my right side. And I needed to learn how to talk again, how to walk, how to read, everything.

Katie:

How did you get through all that? Because it must be frustrating.

Veronica:

Yes, I was so frustrated. I just prayed. Prayed.

Katie:

You would have to, right? To just, cause you can't really communicate with anybody, verbally, and so that's what you have, right?

Veronica:

Yeah.

Katie:

So how did it go with you recovering from a stroke and a baby? Yeah. So I am so thankful for my family. always saying

Veronica:

Because they were always there for me. My mom actually took Adelina home after two weeks that she was born.

Katie:

Oh, so she was in the NICU for two weeks. Okay. Cause She was a preemie.

Veronica:

Yes, she was. she was born on July 13th. On the 14th, they took everything off. She didn't need a feeding tube. She didn't need any oxygen, nothing.

Katie:

And how early was she?

Veronica:

She was like a month and a half early.

Katie:

Oh, a month and a half early. so quite a bit.

Veronica:

And she weighed Like three pounds?

Katie:

To see her running around at church these days. You would not know she was a preemie either.

Veronica:

No, no, no.

Katie:

She's very smart

Veronica:

She very intelligent.

Katie:

No developmental anything, so she's such a blessed little girl. But, okay, so how did it go with your mom helping raise Adelina?

Veronica:

Yes. so for the first month and a half, she just kept her and I was trying to recover in the hospital and she would bring her every day to see me and that so that I can see her and then she would take her back. And then when they finally released me, my mom was like, do you want us to keep her still a little bit longer while you get used to being around here at the house? Because we moved in with my parents. And I was like, yeah, that'd be awesome. And so my mom let her sleep with her for the first few months and then when it started to get colder because my mom's house does get cold upstairs, she came downstairs with us and that's when I started to take care of her more. I'm not saying that I made a full recovery, but it's like a 90 percent recovered.

Katie:

it's amazing. It is absolutely a miracle in front of our eyes what has happened with your life in that period of time. And that was 2019.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

So, in five years you have made a huge change. In everything. So, are there any lingering effects from the stroke? Anything you have to be careful of or?

Veronica:

They just told me to limit things. Like I really can't run, but when I do go. I When I work out, I just like to walk on the walker or on the bike but I can't over push.

Katie:

So, after you had the stroke, and you have this new baby, and Adrian and you move into your parents house, what were you thinking? Like what was happening in you life?

Veronica:

So my mom and Adrian, basically everybody, was like, I think she might be depressed.

Katie:

And were you? So what did you do?

Veronica:

My mom knows a psychologist and she said, I think you need to go see her. And I was like, no. No, I don't want to. Until I was like, okay. Okay, I'll do it.

Katie:

I think it's really important that we say there's no shame in getting help and having mental health struggles, right? You just came off this life altering event, and so it's gotta be incredibly difficult to not be able to function like you want to and have this new baby.

Veronica:

and Yeah, that's what she told me. She's like, you're 23 years old, you just had a baby. That's not something that every 23 year old goes through.

Katie:

And again, here we are 5 years later and all of this is like, nobody would believe it. You have just made so many recoveries in that 5 years.

Veronica:

Yeah.

Katie:

It's nothing short of a miracle. Really. To see you smiling again to see you, just carrying on with Adelina. It is just such a blessing to be able to witness that miracle because it truly was. How long were you suffering with depression? How long did it take to heal?

Veronica:

Up until about the beginning of COVID. Because then that's when she had to shut down everything. And she told me, she's like, if you ever need anything, you are only a phone call away.

Katie:

You mean the counselor? Okay, so then you could do it by phone? Okay, And then also during this period of time, your grandma has cancer. Yeah. So, how long ago did your grandma get diagnosed? with cancer?

Veronica:

Two years ago.

Katie:

She also lives with your parents. So your parents have in the house themselves, mom and dad, your sister?

Veronica:

My sister, my brother, and then us three. It was about 9 people in the house.

Katie:

And your grandparents, right?

Veronica:

Yes, with my grandparents.

Katie:

I mean it's a pretty big house, but how is it, I don't know that I've ever lived with more than just like my immediate family, so. How is it when you live with so many different generations all in one household?

Veronica:

Before I moved out with Adrian for the very first time, we've all lived, together. Adrian, his family's very small, so he hasn't ever lived with so many people at the same time. It was an adjustment for him, but for me it was like being back at home, but when I was single.

Katie:

Yeah, because there's four generations. Which is awesome. And I'm sure there's a lot of benefits for Adelina.

Veronica:

Oh, yeah. We moved and right next door by the way right door. Yeah. And she still goes, mommy, I want to go home. And I was like, but you are home. She's like, no, not this home, our other home. And right now she's with my mom and with Lupe. And she just can't really get over the fact that she does not live there anymore.

Katie:

Yeah. It's an adjustment the first 5 years, that's where she lived And I can't imagine she probably didn't get spoiled too much when she could just be well this one said no, but I got 8 more people to go to.

Veronica:

This year I'm asking all of her family members, please do not give her any toys, because oh my gosh. We We are getting rid of so many toys that she has around the house. it's crazy.

Katie:

I can imagine. She's the first grandchild. Yeah First great grandchild

MVI_1959:

First niece,

Katie:

in some cases. So she's not at all spoiled. Alright, so, in the five year period where all this crazy stuff was happening, that you were battling, you also had a pretty severe car accident.

Veronica:

Yeah.

Katie:

So you want to talk about that a little Bit?

Veronica:

Yeah, so this past winter, we were driving home from school, and I don't know how and when, but we got hit and everyone who was there to witness our accident was like, you had a guardian angel with you guys because the ditch was really bad. And I don't know, we spun three times and when then we landed, And then, that time that I got hit, I was just thinking, Dear Lord, please cover my daughter.

Katie:

Yeah, because she was with you.

Veronica:

Yes. Yes. at the time she was going to Onsted. And we had had a half day, and we were just coming home from school. And she was on her tablet, and she was just screaming the whole time.

Katie:

But luckily, everybody's okay.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

Uh, minor scrapes and bruises.

Veronica:

For her yes, and then I had a laceration on my kidney. So I was in bed for three days.

Katie:

And did you start to think like you were going back to those days when you were recovering from the stroke?

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

Yeah. So how did you break yourself of thinking those things?

Veronica:

I was praying, hardcore. Praying and I guess it really was a guardian angel because I don't even know how I got out of the car. I pulled Addie out of the car and then a fireman was coming home from work and he's like, are you guys okay? I already called 9 1 1 and I was like, yes, but my daughter, my daughter, And she was she just had a few bruises on her her lung area and then where her seatbelt was and I honestly don't know. I pulled Addie out of the car. I grabbed my phone and I called Adrian and I was like, Hey, we got into a car accident. We're here. I need you to get over here as quick as you can. I started feeling a bunch of pain on my right side too. It was my right side.

Katie:

which is where the stroke affected yeah.

Veronica:

I thought that I had broken a rib, but it was just really bruised. But I did, like I said, I had a laceration on my kidney. And they, they took me to the hospital since friday and then they let me go on Sunday. They did not let me get up. Nothing. They just wanted to make sure that laceration did not become bigger.

Katie:

So, Through all of this, I'm imagining you're probably praying to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Veronica:

Yes. Yes.

Katie:

So can you tell the listeners a little bit about Our Lady of Guadalupe? Because I don't know how many know the history and why people are so devoted to her.

Veronica:

Before I was even born, my mom, almost had a abortion with me. they did not do anything in Florida. And my mom left in Mexico. And she would just pray really hard. And my mom had me over there. And we lived in Mexico City. And so she would take me as many chances she had to visit her, the Basilica. And. I don't know what it is about being there, and you just feel this peace.

Katie:

It's on my bucket list to get there. Really, I've heard that numerous times. And people also crawl on their knees.

Veronica:

yes, and so my mom also made a promise to her to get a green card. And she said, if you let my daughter and I get a green card, we will crawl to you from the entrance all the way up to where you are. And yeah, that's what we did.

Katie:

That's pretty powerful. And I'm certain our lady was with you while you were going through your stroke struggles and your depression, and your accident, because your family has such a devotion to her.

Veronica:

Yes, yes.

Katie:

So, our lady of Guadalupe is Mary, right? The Mary, who appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

So her feast day is December 12. So how do you celebrate that as a family?

Veronica:

We really don't do much at home because we do it all here at church. in But the I don't know in the American culture if you guys do this or not, but what we do is me and Lupita. But By the way, my name is Guadalupe, too. My mom buys us a little cake because it's our Santo Day.

Katie:

It's your saint day for Guadalupe.

Veronica:

Yes. and that's what we do. We usually do the cake the day after because my parents do a dinner here for the whole church and it just takes up the whole day so we really don't get a chance to celebrate but we come to church and then depending on what time the church is over we either stay for dinner or we don't because last year we didn't because Addie had to be at school.

Katie:

Leading up to our Lady of Guadalupe, there's a Novena.

Veronica:

Yes. nine

Katie:

do you so what do for the novena?

Veronica:

We pray the rosary and we do songs.

Katie:

And you do those in your home or as a church

Veronica:

We have one here at the church, but if you can't make it, you can always pray at home.

Katie:

Yeah, and it's beautiful. I've I've been a few times. It is absolutely beautiful. And then the night before Guadalupe.

Veronica:

Oh, mañanitas.

Katie:

Yeah, so what is this?

Veronica:

So they've changed it over the years. But, basically they pray the last rosary. And then people give their testimonies. They sing to her, they recite poems. A lot of things.

Katie:

So it's kind of an evening, cause it's late. It's very late. It's like 10, I think it starts. Yeah. It's an evening to just show your devotion to Guadalupe. And lots of people give their testimonies about how they've overcome things through the intercession of Guadalupe.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

my Spanish is not so great to be honest with you I, your dad I think believes in me a lot more than I believe in that one. But I've heard your story shared, parts of it that I couldn't understand on Mananitas a few times from your parents. Yeah, Cause they are not only proud of you, but also, devoted to what our lady has done.

Veronica:

Yes. My mom told me if it was it was okay, and I was like, yeah, yeah. Yeah,

Katie:

I think, we had you share it with the confirmation kids last year.

Veronica:

I did.

Katie:

And they were really taken back by the fact that this kind of stuff happens, right? We hear about it in reading the books of the saints and stuff like this. But to actually sit and talk to someone who came through a miracle is not really something a lot of people get to do. So they were able to hear the story from your perspective and Adrian, your husband's perspective. And it is powerful. And Adrian has shared part of it in church for the stewardship talks. And people were talking about how wonderful it was then too because

Veronica:

And I also thank her so much for what she did for him.

Katie:

yes. so you want to talk a little bit about that?

Veronica:

Yeah. So basically when I met Adrian, he was a very heavy weed smoker. And I just prayed to Mary, to God, to Jesus, To please take that away

' Katie:

cause you kind of had this little Romeo and Juliet thing going on, right?

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

The good church volunteer versus the bad boy,

Veronica:

So my parents didn't really like him at the beginning, but once they get to know him, he's not a bad guy.

Katie:

No, he's not.

Veronica:

But yeah, that was hard for him because he just, one day he woke up and he's like, I think I need to go confess myself. And I was like, okay. And then we went on adoration and he just came out of there crying, and I'm like, are you okay? He's like, yeah, I feel so much better. And then he just, I don't know if it really was God is a miracle. Let me tell you, he quit smoking like that. I don't know where he just decided, I don't want to do this anymore.

Katie:

I also think it's a testament to your prayers.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

Because you could have easily just been like, Oh, this is not my problem and whatever. But, I would imagine, I've not seen it, but I would imagine in your house you and him, pray together quite a

Veronica:

At night. Yes, at night time.

Katie:

Yeah. Because you'd have to to get through all that you have been through. Right. He also, did he come into the church?

Veronica:

Yes. He did his First communion and his confirmation.

Katie:

Not too long ago. COVID? COVID?

Veronica:

Yes, COVID time.

Katie:

So, I mean, there's a lot that's happened in five years, Veronica.

Veronica:

Yes.

Katie:

I actually might need to go to therapy for you after hearing all of it. I knew some of it, but not all of it. And that's a lot. So really only by prayers are you able to be standing?

Veronica:

That's all I did those five years. Whether it was my stroke, the Adrian situation, or the car crash, I just prayed.

Katie:

So, do you have a favorite type of prayer?

Veronica:

No, I like them all.

Katie:

You are just like, whatever I can do give me God, give me God today. Yeah. I didn't know if you had like devotion to the rosary, or...

Veronica:

We do do a rosary, but not every night cause, you know, School. Work. Or we do a psalm from the bible And then we sit we just do hail mary's, our fathers and I think that's like the short version But we try to pray as a family because we're trying to get Addy to

Katie:

Yeah, get used to it.

Veronica:

more involved. Yeah.

Katie:

Yeah. It is so fun to see her bouncing around religious ed. It's like she's like Tigger. She's just hopping, hopping, hopping. It's so cute. So is there anything else you'd like to leave us with today? Any words of wisdom? Because you've been through a lot.

Veronica:

I mean, if you're going through anything, just pray. Because, let me tell you prayer works. Whether it be short or long, it works.

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