Valley woman shares story of kidney donation from coworker

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In February of 2021, Gloria Rodriguez was fixed a life-altering diagnosis.

"I recovered retired I was successful kidney failure," she said. "My kidneys were astatine 17 percent astatine that time. Never did I cognize I was really, truly sick."

So sick, she turned to family, including her then-fiance, who discovered a cancerous cyst connected his ain kidney during an MRI.

"He was devastated," Gloria said. "He was like, 'I wanted to springiness you my kidney, but it went successful the trash.'" Little did we know, it did travel backmost cancerous and the doc says, 'If we hadn't recovered it, helium wouldn't beryllium here.' It was a blessing successful disguise. I saved him."

Last May, Gloria took utmost measures, turning to societal media to station her hopeless plea for a caller kidney.

"I enactment it up there, and I figured radical aren't going to work it, radical aren't going to travel through," she said. "I got a batch of hits."

She received dozens of replies, each with the aforesaid sentiment: prayers, praying.

One reply came done with 3 elemental questions: "Where, when, and however bash I proceed to help?"

"I get a telephone call," Gloria said. "I didn't expect it, and it was Inez. She (Inez) called maine and she says, 'Gloria, I'm going to assistance you.'"

But astatine 69 years old, would her kidney beryllium viable?

After undergoing 13 months of tests, my parent learned her kidney was steadfast for donation, but would she beryllium a cleanable lucifer with Gloria?

"After my archetypal sojourn with the doctor, I called the nurse," Gloria said. "She goes, 'Yes, you're a match!' I'm really getting Inez's kidney. It was beautiful."

In aboriginal June, conscionable 2 weeks earlier receiving my mother's kidney, Gloria revealed successful beforehand of the wedding guests that she had a match.

The emotion of the infinitesimal was overwhelming the now-bonded radical of three.

"We were co-workers -- small did we cognize we're going to beryllium household for life," Gloria said.

The 2 announced their country date, scheduled for June 19 astatine UCSF Medical.

"I privation to convey her from the bottommost of my bosom to the bottommost of my small kidney, and conscionable support america successful your prayers," Gloria said.

The nighttime earlier the surgery, my parent was preparing for a two-day enactment successful San Francisco.

Early connected the greeting of June 20, my parent was acceptable to donate the acquisition of beingness arsenic she arrived astatine UCSF Medical, walking into the surgical check-in.

Just earlier 6 am, her recipient was waiting with unfastened arms.

The brace headed to Pre-Op earlier heading into the operating room, wherever they'd each acquisition procedures that would past betwixt 5 to 7 hours.

The kidney transportation was a occurrence aft operating from 7 americium until mid-afternoon.

"It happened truthful fast," Inez said. "I don't adjacent retrieve going into the room."

The adjacent morning, my parent was up and walking, 1 kidney less.

It's been six months since the brace underwent kidney donation -- some women are thriving.

"Now I person her present connected my right-left quadrant, and I instrumentality her everywhere," Gloria said.

They person a connection for those considering kidney donation.

"If you tin bash thing contiguous for someone, bash it," Inez said. "Tomorrow's not promised."

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