If you were to see Juan you would never suspect that he is dealing with ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease). Juan is a happy, loving, caring, joyful 18-year-old. Always has a smile and wants to help everyone he comes across.

Back in October of 2020 a doctor informed Juan (us) that he was showing signs of renal disease. Not sure if Juan knew at that moment what was being said, but for me it felt like my heart had been stabbed and a million of things started to run through my head.  

In December of 2020, we met an amazing nephrologist doctor/team who have been caring for Juan ever since. Every month moving forward Juan had to do lab work and every time those results came back, they showed that his kidneys kept getting worse.

It was quite obvious that Juan will need to start dialysis and need a kidney transplant some time down the road. Dialysis was something that was put on hold in hopes that with medication and diet his kidney function could wait it out as long as possible.

Unfortunately, things took a slight turn and in August 2021 Juan went in for surgery to have port-catheter placed so he could start dialysis. Juan has been on dialysis since and goes 3x a week for treatment. It took a minute for Juan to adjust to his new routine, but is doing fine now.

Juan will soon be having bariatric surgery not only to help him lose weight, but to also help him in the long run with recovery of his kidney transplant.

Juan is supported by his mother, brothers, sisters, grandmother, and a whole village of aunts, uncles, lots of cousins, teachers, and friends.

We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with transplant-related expenses. Please consider donating to COTA in honor of Juan.

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.