Two Southern California Latino families were reunited forever in September 2023 after participating in a rare organ exchange procedure that saved their loved ones’ lives, he said. WLBT network.
When Kathya Rocha, 28, was ready and determined to donate her kidney to her older brother, Jaime Rocha Fernández, who was born with kidneys that were too small for his body size, so he had been receiving dialysis treatment since 2019, without showing any improvement.
However, everything changed when doctors told them that the donation was almost impossible because there were too many veins and arteries around the young woman’s kidney. “There was a very high risk,” said Kathya, who had lost 78 pounds to undergo the procedure, recalling the despair of not being able to save her 40-year-old brother. help
Around the same time, another pair of brothers suffered the same situation that left them unhappy and hopeless.
Joselin Casillas was born with biliary atresia, a congenital defect that prevents bile from the liver from reaching the gallbladder, and at the age of 28 he discovered that his liver function was failing, after spending a long time living with fatigue and not wanting to leave. the house .
Seeing the yellow skin of his older sister and the frustration she had, Saul Casillas did not hesitate to give her part of his liver. Like the Rochas, doctors told them, despite good will, that the surgery was not going to work because the other part of the liver would have been too small.
An unusual solution
After analyzing the situation, Dr. Jim Kim, director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, believed with his team that they could send a double organ exchange. in a way, a very rare thing.
Kim’s suggestion once again gave hope to a couple of grieving families who were struggling to find a solution: Kathya Rocha would donate her liver to Joselin Casillas, and Saúl Casillas would donate his kidney to Jaime Rocha; while the medical tests allowed.
Soon after, after going through the corresponding tests, the doctors confirmed that it was a rare but perfect quadruple compatibility between pairs of sisters. The surgeries were done two weeks later.
“I just think, ‘What are the chances of finding two other people who are completely compatible?'” he told station ABC 7 Joseline Casillas.
“It was a matter of timing and a bit of luck. It just so happened that their blood groups and antibody levels matched,” explained Kim. “As far as we know, this is the second time this has happened in the world. “
“Extended” family.
Last March, seven months after the amazing donations and without any complications, the pairs of brothers met for the first time.
“It was like being with family,” said Jaime Rocha, who has found a new job in a different field.
“Seeing them was definitely the most beautiful feeling,” said Joselin Casillas, who is studying to be an elementary school teacher. “Here we are, with this new opportunity in our lives. ”
For his part, Saul Casillas said that an unbreakable bond had been created. “We’re an extended family, that’s how I feel,” he said.
Now, after publishing their success story, the Rochas and the Casillas are advocating for more people to join the option of organ exchange, especially in minority communities. “Hispanics are a little scared, but in the end, it’s worth it. It will save your life and the lives of others,” said Jaime Rocha.
“Not only have they saved Jaime’s and mine’s lives, they’ve taken us off the list [de espera]but two managed to get on that list,” said Joselin Casillas.
2024-04-17 02:24:12
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