“You cannot live a perfect day  
without doing something for someone  
who will never be able to repay you.” 
~ John Wooden

Michael Pelikan was a student at Saint Lawrence Academy when I first started working there in 1984. I never taught him, but I knew him quite well. His parents were the couple who led Kathy and me through the parish Marriage Preparation Program, so we spent many hours at his home. He was a kid who always impressed me, as did his father. In his free time, Mike’s Dad would venture out on his own into San José to spend time with the homeless, bring them food and supplies, and do whatever he could to make sure they had what they needed to survive. He treated each one of these individuals as the human being they were.

Today, I read this post on Facebook by Michael. The teacher who inspired him, Mr. Cedell Clayton, was the class act of Saint Lawrence Academy. He cared about his students. He cared about the school. He lived a life of integrity. Although I understood his reasons for doing so, I was saddened when he left Saint Lawrence Academy to take a job at San Mateo High School. It was an honor for me to work with him for so many years.

Here’s Michael’s story in his words: 

Back in high school, I had an inspirational teacher, coach, and role model. Reflecting back, he was a monumental force in building the foundation of who I am today. As is common with most people, after graduation, I lost contact with him and have never had the opportunity to tell him what he means to me and the impact that he made on my life.

The lessons he imparted, both academic and life-related, the compassion he showed, and his unwavering belief in his students are aspects of high school that have stayed with me. He was more than just a teacher; he was a guiding light, inspiring everyone to become better individuals.

On May 10, 2022, I received a Facebook message from a classmate. My teacher was very sick and in dire need of a kidney transplant. With tears in my eyes, I put down my glass of Jack and made a commitment right then and there that I would do anything in my power to help the person who was so formative in my life.

Over the course of the past year, I have not had a drink, lost 40 pounds, dedicated myself to health and exercise, had close to 100 medical tests, and flown to San Francisco three times.

Amazingly, back in December, I was matched to him as a kidney donor. The medical team was in shock — the odds of being a direct match were 1% of 1%.

Ever since that time, I have been waiting for the call; a call that my teacher was medically cleared and that we could proceed.

On Tuesday, May 23rd, I will be donating a kidney to my Saint Lawrence Academy teacher, Cedell Clayton.

I am excited about having the opportunity to help a fellow human being, but especially so since I am able to hopefully extend the life of an amazing man who has meant so much to me. The next weeks and months will not be easy for me. I will be out of work for 4–8 weeks. Given the amount of preparation that I have dedicated to the procedure, the doctors are hopeful that it will be on the shorter side, but time will tell.

This decision aligns with the values Mr. Clayton instilled in me: to care for and help others in any way we can. I know the coming weeks and months will be challenging, but I am prepared for what’s ahead, and more importantly, hopeful for Mr. Clayton’s future.

I wanted to share this with you, as I believe it’s a testament to the lasting impact Mr. Clayton and all my teachers / mentors / friends / family / etc. have had on me: to care, to give, and to make a difference in the lives of others, no matter how big or small that difference might be. I want you to look back and hopefully identify somebody that has shaped you. Reach out to them and let them know. I am truly grateful that I have had the opportunity to let my role model know what he has meant to me.

I love you all and ask that each of you look for ways to share the love that you have for those around you. Please keep Mr. Clayton, all our loved ones, and me in your thoughts.