Check Out David Zelaya Arias Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Zelaya Arias.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my project in El Salvador, more than 7 years ago, then I decided to return to the United States and live here. For many years, I put aside my passion for creativity and design. I worked for many years in the restaurant industry, becoming a manager. Then in 2020, I was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis due to fatty liver, which kept me in the hospital for 11 days and I also tested positive for COVID.

Being alone in the hospital made me reflect and decide what kind of attitude I would take with the disease and make the decision to have a positive attitude. I was between hospitals and doctors all of 2021 and in the middle of the year in August my parents come from El Salvador and invite me to spend a few days at my brother’s house in North Carolina (I used to live in Washington DC). The area was enchanted and I decided to move at the end of 2021.

My health worsened and I was hospitalized as an emergency. my case is transferred to Duke University Hospital, then I got my liver transplant on November 23rd and my life started again that day, I like to think I was reborn again, and I was granted a second chance to live. Now I’m starting with my floral art company in the triad area of North Carolina, and wishing to show my work for weddings and special events.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been difficult, first from a young age growing up in a macho culture and a conservative family made me not afraid to accept who I was.

Then when I came out of the closet, I learned that the fear was unfounded because my family didn’t stop loving me, on the contrary, they loved me more. Then the mental barriers were the most difficult, dealing with anxiety, fear of the new, and especially money.

But the most difficult thing I have faced is having lived an unhealthy life until I was 30, which resulted in my illness that almost ended up taking my life.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What I do is floral art, I loved to design venues and special events for other people, to see their faces when they see their ideas come to reality. I am known for being a perfectionist, I put all my passion into every single detail to make the event unique.

My events are all about elegance, uniqueness, and good taste, and also I use unconventional materials and ideas to make my events stand from other floral artists. I also try to support local producers and people from my Latino community or Salvadoreans.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I also working on a fashion clothing line, which is an organ donation-inspired collection, and I will love to support non-profit organizations that work to create awareness on organ donations.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://dazelbydavidzelaya.mitiendanube.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dazel2019/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DazelByDavidZelaya/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC_aCDWOdf_zM_gexzeXo8aQ