Ramon Resa’s Journey from Abandoned Migrant Farmworker Boy to Doctor
At an early age, Ramon’s mother gave him away to a couple in Central Valley, California who raised him as one of 15 children in their household. He lived in severe poverty, neglect and abuse and was forced to do full time back-breaking farm labor his entire childhood.
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One of the Most Timely & Inspiring Stories of Human Potential Audiences Will See
One of Ramon’s grade school teachers told him that he didn’t have to be a farmworker for the rest of his life. She encouraged him to get a college education explaining that with a degree Ramon could choose any career he wanted. Upon hearing her words, Ramon felt hope for a better future for the first time in his life. He then set his sights on making it to college, not knowing what college was. His pilgrimage out of the fields was nearly stopped by staggering adversity. Ramon had a speech impediment, suffered bouts of severe depression, including suicidal thoughts and faced racial discrimination in school. On top of this, he had to battle fierce opposition from his guardians who forbade him to go to college insisting he get a job after high school to help support them.
The Indomitable Human Spirit
Despite his Dickensian childhood and against all odds Ramon made it through college and medical school. When he received his license to practice medicine, Dr. Resa returned to the same area of Central Valley where he grew up and went to work as a pediatrician. For over 30 years he’s provided care for children (of migrant farmworking families) like he once was. Dr. Resa’s living proof to his young patients that they too can make a better future for themselves. Audiences of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds will come away from watching RAMON RISING believing, “If Dr. Resa was able to overcome everything he faced and become a doctor, then I too can make my life better!”
Changing the Narrative – Debunking Negative Myths & Stereotypes
Dr. Resa’s story is a potent antidote to today’s outbreak of xenophobia. It convincingly debunks negative myths and stereotypes about immigrants and their children who come to America seeking a better life. Dr. Resa’s success puts a human face on the universal truth that every child, including an abandoned migrant farmworker boy with a speech impediment, no family, and zero resources has the potential to become a valuable, contributing member of our society.
The most important lesson to learn is to not allow anyone to label you as disadvantaged if you come from poverty, broken homes or have faced extraordinary challenges … view them as your advantage and know that because of your pain and suffering, because of your hardships, because of your poverty you have the strength, the grit, the fortitude, the resiliency, the kindness, the compassion and the empathy to realize your goal much greater than others who have never experienced those and that leads to your greatness. So own it, OWN it and move from being the victim to be the visionary.
RAUL RUIZ, MD – U.S. Congressman
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