"I’m from California, originally, and my husband and I moved here to Alabama six years ago. We live in Athens, and we both work at Huntsville Hospital. We moved here because we wanted to leave California, and a friend of mine convinced me to call Alabama home.
"My friend moved here 26 years ago. I flew out for her wedding one fall, and I thought it was beautiful — the mountains and the trees. It was amazing. I thought, ‘Maybe one day I will find myself here.’ The following year she let me know the hospital was really hurting for respiratory therapists. When she told me that, I said, let me apply and see how it works out. Here we are coming on four years now.
"As far my kidney donation and what led me to do that, I saw a story on the news probably 12 or 13 years ago. I don’t know what show it was, but someone donated a kidney to a co-worker. They mentioned that there are a small percentage of people who donate to a stranger. All these years, that story has stuck with me; it’s been in the back of my heart.
"Fast forward, and I mentioned the idea of donating a kidney to my husband. Without hesitation, he said, ‘That’s great, why don’t you look into it.’
"I just prayed about it. I thought I might not be qualified to donate. I just wasn’t sure it would even be possible.
"Hope Coleman was the first person I talked to when I called UAB and asked about the process of donating a kidney and mentioned that I was interested. Hope was my coordinator. Ultimately, she told me that I was an excellent donor prospect. I couldn’t believe it. I went through all of the tests, and afterwards, they told me it might go kind of fast.
"I did the research, and I thought it would be six months before I was called to donate. Hope called me two days after I was approved to donate and said that I was a match for three people. I was floored and excited!
"I went in with the understanding that the person I was going to donate to might not want to meet me and that we may stay anonymous to one another, and I was OK with that.
"Fortunately, my recipient did want to meet, and I donated to a wonderful person who lives in Goodwater, Alabama. On the same day, her grandson donated to another woman.
"My recipient is my kidney sister. We had our surgery on World Kidney Day, March 14, 2019. We met two days after the surgery, and we met in Birmingham about 6 months after our surgery. She said she felt good. We were talking about food. She said she liked spicy stuff, and I said, well you’re part Mexican now. You’ve got part Latina in you. We were all family now.
"Other than thinking about her and always hoping she is doing well — and she’s doing fabulous — I don’t really think about the fact that I donated. Every once in a while, it will cross my mind.
"I wear a “Donate Life” pin on my badge at work. It says “Living Donor” on it. It brings awareness to families and people that I care for and see in the hospital and opens up a conversation. I’m kind of proud about that. Some people at work ask me if I feel like I’m missing something, and I don’t. I tell them if anything, I feel like a void has been filled. I’ve just always had it in my heart — a willingness to do something more.
"Everything happens for a reason. Nothing is by accident. If I would have been born with three kidneys, I would donate another one again.
"I can honestly say throughout the whole process — even on the day of the surgery — that I was never nervous. I think it’s because I was doing it for the right reasons. The anxiety and worriedness just never came. I never had a second thought. I think it’s because my kidney was meant for my recipient."