Kidney and Pancreas Recipient

Lazaro Borges

My life seemed to be going fine until I was diagnosed with end stage renal disease in October of 1999. At the same time, my doctor told me that I would be on dialysis until an organ donor could be found.

I thought to myself, "how bad could this be?" I was wrong. Little did I know how dialysis would affect me mentally, emotionally and physically. In addition, I had also struggled with being a diabetic since the age of twelve. I was on the Waiting List for three years. Life on dialysis wasn’t easy…I thought it would never end.

My nightmare ended on Sunday morning, November 3, 2003 when I received the phone call from the Transplant Coordinator at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. It was devastating to hear about a young woman who had lost her life in a car accident. Even though I didn’t know her, the news still left me in shock and very upset. I knew what I had gone through on dialysis, but I did not know what the family of my organ donor was going through. My donor will always be in my prayers and she holds a special place in my heart.

I am enjoying my life more now than ever before. Although I will soon be two years post transplant, I wish my donor could be with her family living her life to the fullest. She will be an eternal ray of sunshhine in my life.

I thank my guardian angel for never leaving my side.