Son saves father’s life with organ donation
Jesus Esparza went to a dialysis treatment with his dad just once, and that’s all it took for him to decide to become an organ donor to save his dad’s life.
“It was hard seeing him sit there for so long,” said Jesus. “I told him I was getting tested to be a kidney donor. I couldn’t see him continue to go through those treatments.”
Jesus, 42, is a Systems Tech for AT&T in Lubbock, Texas. His father, Jesus Esparza Sr., was diagnosed with kidney disease in January of 2020 after suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure for many years. He ended up in the ER in Lubbock, near his home in Snyder, Texas. Doctors told him that both of his kidneys were failing, and he needed to start dialysis. Because he was in his late 60s, his family knew he would be on the transplant waiting list for a very long time.
However, Jesus couldn’t bear to see his dad suffer.
“The dialysis center gave us the contact information for the team at Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant,” said Jesus. “I was tested in November of 2020. When I found out I was a match, our family wasn’t worried about me donating my kidney. We all knew it was right.”
The Esparzas scheduled their kidney transplant surgery for April 9, 2021. Jesus said donating his kidney was a fairly easy process, and he didn’t have much pain after surgery. His father spent a few days in the hospital and was cleared to return home.
“I’m so grateful to God and all the nurses and doctors who have helped me get a new kidney,” said Jesus Esparza, the father. “And I absolutely thank my son for this gift.”
Today, they are both doing well. They look forward to enjoying another Father’s Day with their family.
“It was something that I wanted to do for my dad, and it helped out with his life. Hopefully, he has many more years to live,” said Jesus, the son.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. That’s about 15 percent of the population. Many people with chronic kidney disease don’t even know they have it. Learn more about how Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant helps those suffering from kidney disease.