Michelle and Salvador Gonzalez
Husband runs marathon shortly after donating kidney to his wife in effort to raise awareness for PKD.
“For a while, I knew I was going to need a kidney transplant,” said Michelle Gonzalez.
Michelle was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at just 12 years old. PKD is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and ultimately, lose function.
Michelle began to experience severe cramping, weakness, high blood pressure and continuous urinary tract infections; turns out she was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. Her red blood cell count was very low which required injections to stimulate red blood cell production.
In 2020, Michelle and her husband, Salvador Gonzalez, went to Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant to begin the screening process.
Michelle and Salvador have been married for four years and together, they have a beautiful baby girl. “There was no question in my mind, if I could [donate], I would,” said Salvador. Michelle commented, “When I first told my husband many years ago, he had already decided he would donate, but never verbally told me. It was very noble of him.”
Salvador received THE phone call about being his wife’s match and called her right away. The couple could not believe it when they learned he was a match. They were ecstatic. It was such a relief for the pair knowing Michelle did not have to undergo dialysis treatment.
“It’s crazy to think about. She told me about PKD when we first started dating and let me know that at some point she was going to need a kidney transplant,” commented Salvador. “When you first hear it, it seems far away in the future.”
The couple sat through the orientation and got to learn about all the science behind kidney transplantation as well as the process.
Michelle and Salvador faced many challenges throughout the process but remained hopeful. Due to COVID-19, the transplant process was delayed. The couple was also pregnant with their first child, which caused Michelle’s kidney function to worsen. Salvador had to lose weight in order to qualify to be Michelle’s donor. He lost an estimated 65 lbs. and both continued to monitor their health until surgery day.
The kidney transplant occurred on September 22, 2021. Post-surgery, Michelle’s lung collapsed and was moved to the ICU. While in recovery, the nurses there took excellent care of her. Immediately after, Michelle said she felt healthier and had so much more energy.
Salvador experienced a bit of discomfort that lasted about a week after surgery. On November 3, 2021, he began jogging about six miles per day. Four months later, Salvador decided to run a marathon to raise awareness for PKD. Initially, he planned to run half a marathon, which is 13 miles. However, when that day arrived, he ended up running the full 26 miles. “Whenever he sets his mind to something, he is determined to get it done,” said Michelle.
Michelle and Salvador would like to express their gratitude to all the staff including nurses, physicians, transplant coordinators and their living donor advocate who supported them through this difficult time. “Any time I had a question, everyone was very responsive and helpful,” said Michelle.
“I now have a positive outlook on life and I feel happier,” said Michelle.
“Now that I know what PKD is and the toll it takes on a person’s body, I am glad that I was able to help my wife,” commented Salvador. “There are other people who do not have a donor and there are those who aren’t aware of organ donation; through our story, I hope others know what [the process] is like and I hope we can inspire others to become donors.”