Daughter donates kidney to mother to save her life

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant has helped patients across Texas and the United States find a match for a kidney transplant. One of the transplant recipients was Hermelinda “Melly” Laurel of Edinburg, Texas. Melly’s kidneys failed after having trouble with her gallbladder. After having surgery to remove her gallbladder, she started dialysis hoping her kidneys would resume working, but that didn't happen. Her doctors told her she would have to continue dialysis or get a transplant to survive. All four of her daughters were tested to see if they were a match, and her daughter Loreena was the only one who could donate her kidney.

“I never second guessed it. She’s my mom. I would do anything for her,” said Loreena Laurel. “Giving the gift of life — you can’t do better than that.”

“Our amazing donors are truly making a significant impact for our transplant patients by offering such a blessed gift. They are giving these mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters more time to experience life,” said Maura Kapp, Director of Kidney Transplant Services at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. “It takes tremendous teamwork and an outstanding facility to make this happen.”

The kidney transplant program at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant started in San Antonio in 1984. Since then, the program has grown to become the largest living donor kidney transplant program in the U.S. The program also includes a specialized team solely dedicated to kidney paired donor exchange, designed to match up a donor/recipient pair with another pair that could be a compatible match for each other. Our teams of expert medical professionals use cutting-edge research and technology to provide our patients with the level of quality, service and care they deserve.