Marine already our personal hero

This letter to the editor is intended to express our sincere appreciation and congratulations to a great Marine and special person in the Canales family.

Staff Sgt. Cassell Jahmaal “C.J.” Wiggins, who was presented with the Bronze Star medal for heroic actions while deployed to Afghanistan last year, became a hero in our hearts on Oct. 29, 2006, when he stepped forward and volunteered to be an organ donor to our only son, Dave Canales, math teacher at Cibola High School and father of our two grandsons Justin, 13, and Jordan, 10.

Wiggins, who met our son by way of their spouses who worked together, learned that our son was very close to being put on dialysis due to a 12 percent kidney function caused by a disease he developed at the age of 30. Without being asked, Wiggins offered to go through the process of being tested to see if he could match six of the 12 antigens needed to be considered as our son's donor. By the grace of God, he matched the six, and as C.J. said, “I am your donor, Dave, let's go do it.”

The article in the Feb. 4 issue of the Yuma Sun brought tears of joy to our hearts. In our eyes, this type of action on Wiggins' part is what we call “divine intervention.” We believe that in life, some people are put on this earth to be “angels” and Wiggins is the great example of one. It does not surprise me at all that he made the courageous acts he did to help save his fellow Marines while deployed. Saving lives is “second nature” to this fine Marine. He is most deserving of this honor and medal. Congratulations, my dear son!

I know that Wiggins is not the type of person who expects accolades for his generosity and selfless acts. However, he has to know how precious his actions are and what they mean to the families of the Marines he helped save on that day. Speaking from firsthand experience, I can assure him that the parents, spouses, siblings and extended family members will forever be grateful to him and his heroic actions.

On behalf of my husband, German, who served four years in the Marine Corps, God bless you, C.J., for being there for your fellow Marines and for our son. Because of you selfless act, our grandsons have their Daddy today. Semper Fi.

German and Yolie Canales

Yuma