Beth Zavala

August 2023

When Beth Zavala woke up in the ICU on November 30, 1985, she heard the soothing sound of classical music and wondered, “Is this Heaven?” At age 31, the single mom of two daughters had put her life into God’s hands when doctors gave her a 50/50 chance of surviving an emergency liver transplant. Despite her situation, Beth remembers feeling profoundly peaceful as they wheeled her into surgery. “I wish I had that feeling again…that’s the most trusting time I’ve ever had with God.”

Beth believes that feeling of trust—along with the outcome of her surgery and countless blessings since then—came from prayer. She had learned early on to pray through both good times and bad, following the examples of many role models, especially her parents and grandparents.

One chance to witness the power of prayer came when Beth was only five years old. Baby sister Julie had fallen onto a hot steamer and suffered severe burns. The little girl had to endure multiple painful surgeries, but over time, Beth saw how prayer led to Julie’s complete recovery. Later, nine-year-old Beth knew exactly what to do the day her baby brother Matthew stopped breathing. Although he nearly died before the ambulance could get him to the hospital, Beth dropped to her knees and prayed fervently that he would live—which he did, for 57 beautiful years.  

These events set the stage for Beth’s prayer life, and years later when she needed a liver transplant, she didn’t hesitate to ask others to pray. She mobilized a network that included her family, friends, colleagues from the Des Moines Public Schools, priests, laypeople, Sacred Heart Parish, and Sacred Heart School, where her daughters got to hear their mom’s name lifted up in prayer every morning during announcements. Beth was grateful for the overwhelming support. “Thousands of people were praying for me.”

Although prayer was giving Beth the strength she needed, her struggles had just begun. That soothing music she heard after surgery wasn’t Heaven--it was the Mayo Clinic, and she would be there for two more months recovering from complications including the stroke she’d suffered on the operating table. Doctors would give her only five years to live, not nearly enough to raise her daughters to adulthood.

But all these years later, Beth is still here. “God has been good,” she says of her journey to today. “I went through a lot of suffering, but I think suffering brings deeper faith. I’m very blessed right now in my life.” With a wonderful family, supportive friends, a job she loves, and a rich faith life, it’s clear that for Beth, prayer has made all the difference.