Bay Area Kidney Recipient Meets Donor

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A Tearful First Meeting

In an incredibly special and heartwarming event, a Santa Rosa woman, Dominique, met Juan Hernandez, the man whose life was forever changed by her decision to donate one of her kidneys. The two shared a deeply emotional and tearful first meeting, where Juan expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the second chance at life that Dominique's selflessness had given him.

Dominique's Inspiration and Decision

This extraordinary story began earlier this year when Dominique decided to donate one of her kidneys at Sutter Health in San Francisco. She was inspired to become an organ donor after hearing about celebrity Selena Gomez's kidney transplant. Dominique's decision to donate her kidney proved life-changing for Juan Hernandez, who had been on dialysis and desperately needed a new kidney to survive. He described his feelings in the meeting, saying,

"I'm more appreciative than anything."

The Ripple Effect of Non-Directed Donation

Dominique's altruism went beyond helping just one person. She was a non-directed donor, which means that her kidney went into a match system that linked people across the country. This process ultimately led to four people receiving new kidneys, showcasing the far-reaching impact of her selfless act.

Sutter Health's Living Donor Institute and National Donate Life Month

The meeting between Dominique and Juan took place as Sutter Health launched a new Living Donor Institute during National Donate Life Month. Three months after the surgery, both Dominique and Juan are healthy and well. Their emotional exchange highlighted the incredible bond that can form between an organ donor and the person whose life they have saved. Juan told Dominique,

"God is going to bless you with a lot of blessings for having a big heart like that. Thank you."

The Impact of Organ Donation and How to Get Involved

This touching story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact organ donation can have on the lives of others. April is National Donate Life Month, and there are plenty of easy ways to become part of the donor process. By considering organ donation, you too could change someone's life and create a lasting bond, just like Dominique and Juan. If you are inspired to save a life and donate a kidney, you can find out how to do so in this article.

Related Articles

How to Become a Kidney Donor

How Organ Donation and Transplantation Works

‍‍What is Dialysis?

Reference

Bay Area kidney transplant recipient 'forever grateful' as he meets his donor

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‍About the Author

Rich Foreman brings over 30 years of technology leadership to his role of CEO and Co-Founder of KidneySoft.  As founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy. Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber. He was also the Founding Chief Technology Officer at Cordico. Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020.  Rich also served 4 years as a Naval Officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.

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Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.

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