UHealth Surgeons at Jackson Memorial Hospital Successfully Perform Kidney Transplant on High School Sweethearts thanks to the Living Donor Kidney program
Who:
Abel Valdes, kidney recipient
Gabriela Valdes, kidney donor
Giselle Guerra, MD, medical director of the Living Donor Kidney Program
Mahmoud Morsi, MD, CPHQ, abdominal transplant surgeon
What:
Abel and Gabriela Valdes have experienced many milestones together: they began dating at 17, married years later in 2004, and now live in Kendall with three beautiful children. But wedding vows aren’t just words for this couple: when Abel became critically ill, Gabriela did not hesitate to help her partner for life.
Abel was diagnosed with chronic renal failure, known as chronic kidney disease (CKD) – a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time and retention of fluid. At the same time, Gabriela was pregnant with their third son.
In 2016, Abel began dialysis – and at the same time, he was placed on the national transplant waiting list.
But his health continued to deteriorate. Abel was admitted multiple times to the hospital for fluid retention and in October 2017, he had open heart surgery due to the strain that dialysis had on his body.
Seeking a better quality of life, the family was referred to physicians at Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), a unique affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System at Jackson Memorial Medical Center to learn about the Living Donor Kidney Program, spearheaded by UHealth’s Giselle Guerra, MD.
“It is the heart and soul of the kidney program because it generates the best results,” said Dr. Guerra. “The patients do not have to linger on a waiting list; and it shortens the amount of time a patient needs to be on dialysis because they can be transplanted at any point with a living donor.”
Gabriela, although a nurse at a local hospital, was shocked to learn about this alternative and how if she was potentially a match, she could be the one to save her better half.
“I didn’t think it was an option for me to be a donor,” she recalled. “I didn’t think I could do it – especially when I was not related to him.”
Gabriela, 36, and Abel, 38, were confident that she had come to the right place. Lab results came in and it was determined that she was in fact a “perfect match” and the couple decided to embark on this transplant journey together.
“I really didn’t want her to do it because I was scared for her,” said Abel. “But I am thankful to her that I would have the opportunity to watch my kids grow up and continue our family adventures.”
The surgery happened on March 20 at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and was led by transplant surgeons Gaetano Ciancio, MD, MBA, FACS, chief medical officer and director of kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant program and Mahmoud Morsi, MD, CPHQ, abdominal transplant surgeon along with a multidisciplinary team.
“We felt like it was surreal – we just went with the flow and held hands pre-surgery,” said Gabriela. “Once we were finally able to see each other again it was such a relief and joyous moment.”
The couple has since gone home to be reunited with their family and look forward to targeting their bucket list of travel destinations: the Grand Canyon and New York City.
Gabriela, Abel and their children – one girl and two boys – will be present to share their story of unconditional love and educate the community on the importance of becoming a donor as part of April’s “National Donate Life Month” observance.
When:
April 05, 2018, 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Where:
Jackson Memorial Hospital
Ira C. Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center, Room 270
On the corner of Northwest 12th Avenue and 19th Street
Editor’s Note:
Media must park at Alamo Park (no parking available in front of the Clark Diagnostic Treatment Center). Meet a representative of PR at the Alamo building at 11:15 a.m.
Patients Gabriela and Abel Valdes, as well as Dr. Guerra, are available for Spanish interviews.
Dropbox Images: https://bit.ly/2q4c2LU
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Jackson Health System
1611 N.W. 12th Avenue Miami, FL 33136
