Robert Wilcox /Victoria Advocate

Rachel Schuenemann's children will tell you she was one of the most loving
and giving people they ever knew, and not even death could stop her from
helping others.

In fact, Schuenemann's final gift was given after she died. It was a part of
her own body, and it went to a 44-year-old Arlington woman who would not
have survived without it.

"My mother gave to everyone and took care of others, even while she was in
pain," said her son, Ramon Mendieta. "She was a dedicated person to her
family and cared for my sister, who has epilepsy," he added, his voice
cracking with emotion.

Schuenemann, who was born in Edna, was active in charitable organizations
like the Hope Chest and the Salvation Army, according to her son, who made
the decision, after his mother's death, to donate her liver to a person in
need.

"My mother's character made me feel she would have wanted to donate. I know her, and that she would want to continue giving. She was a loving,
God-fearing person, and everyone who met her liked her."

The last chapter in Rachel Schuenemann's life began on Christmas Eve, when
Mendieta got a call from his sister, Margaret, telling him their mother was
being taken to the hospital. "My mother woke up that morning having a little
trouble breathing," Mendieta said. By afternoon, her condition deteriorated
to the point where emergency medical technicians were called.

"Doctors told me that mother had suffered a heart attack and was not likely
to recover, since her brain was oxygen-deprived for about 14 minutes,"
Mendieta said.

Schuenemann then entered a comatose state that lasted several days. While
she lay in a bed at Citizens Medical Center, a magical Christmas snow fell
outside.

"I told her about our wonderful white Christmas while she was resting,"
Mendieta said. "I know she heard me. Somehow, I know she did."

But hope for the 60-year-old woman's survival was fading quickly. "My mother
was declared brain dead about 4 p.m. on Tuesday by doctors, after they did
final tests," said Mendieta.

When asked by a nurse whether he would be willing to authorize the donation
of his mother's organs, Mendieta did not hesitate for one second to say yes.
Mendieta, in consultation with a Citizens nurse liaison who works with
Southwest Transplant Alliance in Dallas, decided Schuenemann's liver, heart
valves, skin and eyes could be donated.

And while her family grieved for their loss, a family in Arlington was
receiving cautiously optimistic news.

Maria Favela, 44, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, moved to the U.S. with
her family when she was about 10 years old.

Favela's husband Tony and her five children had all been concerned for some
time about her deteriorating medical condition, according to her daughter,
Claudia Favela.

Claudia said her mother had to stop driving a vehicle and stop volunteering
at her children's school because of advancing liver disease.
"She was your typical 'soccer mom' and was very active in PTA and
volunteering at the local elementary school," Claudia said. "My Mom had to
endure a lot of physical and emotional pain, and had to stop doing many
things."

Claudia said her mother's condition "was very grim, and she was bleeding
internally. It was an all-time low for us in November, an emotional roller
coaster," Claudia added.

Maria Favela said, "I had been sick about eight to nine years, but last year
was the worst for me. I went to see the doctors at Baylor in February. They
said I had cirrhosis of the liver."

She said doctors believed the cirrhosis possibly was caused by an underlying
immune system disorder or from an infection.

Favela was then listed with Southwest Transplant Alliance, and had been
waiting since February for a donor liver.

"I was not even able to talk with my children hardly. I had to use a walker.
I was not eating well, and was so weak," said Maria, who also has four
grandchildren.

Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas had called Favela three previous
times for a possible transplant, but for various reasons, none of those
worked out.

The fourth and final call from Baylor's transplant team was the beginning of
a connection between the Favela and the Schuenemann families.
"I got the call from Baylor around noon on Wednesday, Dec. 29, to alert me,"
Maria said.

Schuenemann's liver was transported by helicopter from Victoria to Dallas
and arrived about 6 p.m. at Baylor, according to Claudia.

"I knew this time it was going to happen, because they said the operation
would be at 7 p.m. after they checked out the liver," Favela said. "It
really hurt me that another person had to die for me to live."

Right after the operation, Favela reflected again about how she felt. "I'm
Catholic, and asked God whether I should live, and I didn't initially want
to think about the donor," Favela said. "It helps me a lot knowing that God
made the decision. I appreciate her (Schuenemann) and her family for what
they gave me."

A full recovery is expected, and the reaction to transplant rejection drugs
has been good, according to Favela.

"I'm eating, I'm stronger, and I have energy to be able to talk with my
kids. They can even hug me now without being afraid, and soon I'll be able
to do the things I had to stop doing," said Favela, in a very quiet voice.
Rachel Scheunemann's death brought the remaining members of her family
closer together. Ramon Mendieta, his sister Margaret, and their father,
Ramon Sr., all live together now in a pleasant apartment near downtown
Victoria.

Maria Favela inquired of the Advocate during her interview, "Do you think
someday Ramon would meet with me, so I can thank him in person?"
Then, she added, "You never really know what the future holds, do you?"