“I want to honor my father’s legacy, and advocate for kidney patients”
- Amanda
3:59 sec video
OPENING GRAPHIC/TEXT:
Behind the Numbers
a personal look at underrepresented minorities in kidney transplantation
GRAPHIC TRANSITIONS TO NEW GRAPHIC/TEXT:
2020
although deceased donor kidney transplant rates were equivalent among non-White and White recipients, living donor kidney transplant rates differed by race/ethnicity
National data. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
AMANDA’s VOICE OVER BEGINS WITH NEW GRAPHIC/TEXT
Hispanic recipients were 4x less likely to receive a LDKT.
Black recipients were 6x less likely to receive a LDKT.
National data. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
VOICE OVER:
In 2020 Hispanic recipients were roughly four times less likely to receive a living kidney transplant and Black recipients were roughly six times less likely.
CUT TO AMANDA ON CAMERA WITH NAME AND DISCLAIMER
NAME GRAPHIC: Amanda, Kidney Donor
DISCLAIMER: Each patient story reflects the real-life experiences of individuals who underwent a Kidney Transplant. Individual experiences may vary. These patients were compensated for their time creating this video.
Amanda, Kidney Donor
AMANDA ON-CAMERA:
As a kidney donor, these numbers make me more determined than ever to share my story because I am more than a number. You are more than a number.
Raising awareness around disparity in kidney transplantation is important.
It's important because that's a life we're talking about.
CUT BETWEEN AMANDA ON-CAMERA AND FAMILY PHOTOS (bold phrases are illustrated as graphics on screen)
Growing up, I was in a mariachi and my father was the manager.
We would travel throughout the state. We traveled to Mexico City for competitions. And I would always see my dad in the audience beaming with pride because I know that there was only 1 star in my dad's eyes. It was always me.
In 2011, my father was diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney cancer.
And so that meant that he had to wait at least 5 years in order for him to be eligible to receive a kidney transplant.
He chose peritoneal dialysis, which is an at-home dialysis and where you have to do dialysis every night.
In 2015, on Thanksgiving Day, we all gathered at my mom and dad's house like we did every year, but this day was different. My father was very somber and he and my mom passed some brochures out to the family that was there. And with tears in my father's eyes, he shared with us that he was tired, very tired of being on dialysis. I knew at that moment that I needed to start this testing process.
2 weeks from the day I got my labs done, I got the call from the transplant center that I was a 99.7% match for my father.
On Christmas morning, I was able to gift my dad the little video that I had put together, announcing to him that I was a match and he was going to receive his kidney.
The video I shared, I shared on social media, and there were thousands of people celebrating with us by the end of Christmas evening.
6 months later, my dad had his transplant.
My surgery was 2.5 hours. Dad's surgery was 5.
24 hours later, after I was discharged from the hospital, I was able to walk over to my dad and give him a real live hug.
Sadly, the kidney cancer diagnosis that my father received in 2011 came back in 2020, and August 4th of 2020, we lost my dad to stage four kidney cancer.
I am so incredibly grateful that I was able to give my father an extra 4 years of life after donating my kidney to him. He was able to do those things within those four years that he wasn't able to do while on dialysis, like dance with my mom on the beach.
I think sometimes in our Hispanic culture, it's very difficult for us to receive anything from our family members or friends, especially a kidney. I'm so honored to be able to advocate for kidney donors and kidney recipients, to normalize, especially throughout our culture, that it's okay. It's okay to receive that gift from a family member or a friend. I want to honor my father's legacy, and advocate for kidney patients.
I want to let them know it's okay if your children, your grandchildren, nieces, or nephews, want to donate to you. Let them; give them that gift.
My father gave me the greatest gift. I’m so grateful that he allowed me to donate.
CLOSING SLATE:
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MAT-US-2311677-v1.0-01/2024
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