Organ Donor Campaign Saving Lives: Fátima’s Story and the Importance of Donation

This week the Organ Donor campaign is being carried out in EsSalud hospitals and for this reason health professionals seek to convince citizens to donate their organs when they die, since with that act of love they can save several lives.

Is the case Fátima Ponce, 21 years old, who received a kidney from a donor and this allowed her to improve her quality of life. The young woman said that at 11 years old, doctors detected anemia and as a result of the disease she could not perform simple tasks such as walking, since she became agitated quickly., so they admitted her to the pediatric area and then to nephrology. She remembers that she could not attend school regularly because she spent more time in the hospital ward than in her classes.

“I had a kidney transplant in 2015 and that act of love has allowed me to perform fundamental tasks such as studying, walking, eating, and even doing some physical activity. The donation saves many lives,” she told Correo happily and grateful for a new opportunity.

CASES

According to the organ donation specialist at the Carlos Alberto Seguín Escobedo hospital, Fabiola Gómez, one donor can save up to seven lives. He highlighted that last year there were 13 donors and so far in 2023 there are 3 donors.

The doctor said that in Arequipa, There are between 50 and 60 patients waiting for a kidney transplant, but some Unfortunately they die from waiting. “Patients while waiting die from heart attacks or cardiac arrhythmias,” he said.

According to Fabiola Gómez, blood donation awareness campaigns are carried out in the EsSalud, Ministry of Health and Reniec hospital centers. “Decisions to donate should be communicated to the family. There have been cases in which the patient is a donor, but the family does not want to, so the family decision is respected, to avoid problems,” she noted.