Dinorah – Kidney Recipient

It’s February 4, 2011. Dinorah just got home from dialysis. Exhausted, she decides to watch some TV with her daughter before heading to bed. The show ends and she calls it a night. As she gets into the bedroom, it happens. The phone rings. She can’t get there in time to answer, so she calls back right away. Her heart starts racing. It was the hospital. They found a kidney. It can’t be. This soon? When she started dialysis, she was told to expect a two to five year wait. Now, just 11 months later, Dinorah’s life is about to change forever.

Dinorah suffered from high blood pressure for a few years and it started to take a toll on her body. In 2009, her kidneys were failing and she began dialysis three times a week. She sat in a chair for 3 and half hours each day while a machine did the work her kidneys were unable to do. Soon this once active soccer player was barely able to climb the stairs to her apartment. That is, until the call came.

Dinorah’s daughter took her to UMC, where she received a new kidney the next morning. After the surgery, family and friends filled her room. Between visits, Dinorah did her best to catch a glimpse of her Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. She didn’t catch much of the game, but it was a sacrifice well worth making.

The recovery process was long and painful. She was in pain for weeks, but took it one step at a time. Several months after surgery, Dinorah was feeling healthy and ready to climb mountains, both literally and figuratively. She headed out to Red Rock to enjoy the view and her new lease on life. And she hasn’t stopped since. Now two years later, Dinorah frequently hikes at Red Rock, and even joined a hiking group. She wants to stay in shape to take great care of her new kidney and the rest of her body. She celebrated the one year anniversary with a hike, a little quality time with her grandson, and watching the Super Bowl, even though her team wasn’t playing this year.

Though it was a difficult journey, Dinorah never lost hope. Today her message for anyone who is considering donation is this, “If Jesus gave his blood and body to save us, why don’t we?”