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TELEVISION JOURNALIST RECEIVES GIFT OF LIFE FROM COUSIN JUST IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING DAY
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Who:
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Yaredly Hernandez, kidney transplant patient; her cousin and donor, Kiara Hernandez; Giselle Guerra, M.D., medical director of the Living Kidney Donor Program, Miami Transplant Institute at UM/Jackson; George Burke, M.D., UM/Jackson transplant surgeon, Miami Transplant Institute at UM/Jackson; Linda Chen, M.D., UM/Jackson transplant surgeon, Miami Transplant Institute at UM/Jackson
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What:
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At 12-years-old, Yaredly Hernandez was diagnosed with membranous glomerulonephritis – a condition in which the small blood vessels in the kidney, which filters waste from the blood, become inflamed and thickened. Yaredly was immediately put on dialysis and was able to lead a normal life.
In March 2013, Yaredly, now 23, began feeling sick again, and returned to Miami to seek medical treatment. She suffered from frequent nose bleeds, swelling in the legs and high blood pressure. At that point, the reporter for the Puerto Rican travel show, “Nos Vamos de Paseo,” was informed that she would need a kidney transplant. She was immediately placed on dialysis three times a week, will the search began to find a donor.
Her two brothers and a girlfriend of one of the brother’s immediately agreed to be tested, but weeks later Yaredly received the devastating news that none of them proved to be a match. Her cousin, 20-year-old Kiara Hernandez, who was visiting from Puerto Rico decided to get tested. Two weeks later, they received great news – the cousins were a perfect match. “I grew up with two brothers, so Kiara and I were inseparable,” Yaredly said. “She is a sister to me.”
On November 13, 2013, Yaredly successfully underwent a kidney transplant at Jackson Memorial Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. She is looking forward to going back to her reporting career. Kiara, who is studying public relations, is planning on spending a semester studying in Spain. Together, the cousins plan on launching a non-profit organization called “Amatista” (Amethyst) in Puerto Rico to help raise awareness and educate people on living kidney donations.
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When:
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November
15, 2013, 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
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Where:
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Jackson Memorial Hospital
Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center, room 252
Corner of Northwest 12th Avenue and 19th Street
Miami, FL 33136
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Editor’s Note:
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*Media can park outside of DTC. Photos of Kiara and Yaredly are available upon request.
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# # #
Jackson Health System
1611 N.W. 12th Avenue Miami, FL 33136
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