In this episode we’ll hear from José a patient, and Xiomara, his wife and donor, as they describe the challenges they experienced in their quest for a kidney transplant, and the joy they have felt since then. We’ll also hear from transplant social worker Daniela Matz, who assisted them. 

The Census Bureau estimates that there are over 60 million Hispanics and Latinos living in the United States, and the Latinx population is the fastest growing minority. As many as 40 million are speaking Spanish as their first language. Although Hispanics and Latinos are more likely to experience kidney failure compared to other Americans, they are less likely to access kidney transplant as a solution, the resulting disparity means more years on dialysis, reduced quality of life, reduced life expectancy, and increased healthcare expenses. 

Part of the problem is the waitlist for a transplant, there simply aren’t enough organs to go around. If a living donor can be found, then that is a gamechanger. But here we find another disparity – because the process of live donor kidney transplantation can often elude our minority populations.

To address some of these issues, in 2018 Dr. Pablo Serrano established the Latino Transplant Clinic at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Division of Abdominal Transplantation, in Chapel Hill, NC, with the aim of providing culturally competent and culturally sensitive care. 

August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM). 

Founded in 1996 by the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) to bring heightened awareness to donation and transplantation in multicultural communities. For more information and shareable resources please visit:  https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/

All views and opinions expressed in this podcast reflect those of the participants.

We thank the participants and advisors who helped create this podcast, and our underwriter, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals.

© Project Advocacy, 2021

Resources relevant to Episodes 2 of Kidney Transplant Conversations

Welcome to Infórmate   El objetivo de ésta página bilingüe es educar a los hispanos / latinos acerca de la donación de riñón en vida.  The goal of this bilingual page is to educate Hispanics / Latinos about living kidney donation. http://informate.org/  

National Kidney Foundation:   La información más importante sobre la enfermedad renal.  Provides lots of great information about kidney disease from prevention to transplant, including living donation.  https://www.kidney.org/espanol  

American Kidney Fund   Nuestra misión es ayudar a las personas a combatir la enfermedad de los riñones y vivir una vida más sana.  Information plus financial assistance opportunities.  https://www.kidneyfund.org/en-espanol/  

National Foundation for Transplants  Cómo eliminar las barreras financieras para los donantes vivos.  Removing financial barriers to transplantation.   https://transplants.org/resources/ 

Children’s Organ Transplant Association:  Recaudación de fondos y apoyo para niños y adultos jóvenes con poliquistosis renal. Fundraising and support for children and young adults with polycystic kidney disease.  www.cota.org  

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT (PDF) ⬇️