Living on the kindness — and four kidneys — of donors
The Los Angeles Times | Corina Knoll
David Trujillo, 29, has gotten new leases on life from family members and a stranger. With the latest transplant, he is determined to make the most of the lease.
David Trujillo shows a self-portrait. Trujillo, 29, was diagnosed after birth with renal dysplasia â€" his kidneys were too small. “David’s unlucky,†his surgeon said. “But he’s also lucky,†referring to his four transplants. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / September 7, 2012)
David Trujillo's torso is a web of scars. Shunts in his arms, hoses in his stomach, garish gashes left from biopsies and scalpel incisions. In the summer when he goes shirtless, people often stare. Sometimes, to lighten the mood, he'll say he was bitten by a shark.
In reality, his body tells the tale of multiple bouts of kidney failure. David recently received yet another transplant. No. 4. He is 29 years old.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, only about 150 people since 1988 have received four kidney donations. That's out of more than 326,000 total kidney transplants.
In the year leading up to his latest surgery, David would visit a San Dimas dialysis center to have toxins removed from his blood. Four hours a day. Three times a week. The treatments left him weak and drained. He lost 40 pounds.
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
David Trujillo, 29, has gotten new leases on life from family members and a stranger. With the latest transplant, he is determined to make the most of the lease.
David Trujillo shows a self-portrait. Trujillo, 29, was diagnosed after birth with renal dysplasia â€" his kidneys were too small. “David’s unlucky,†his surgeon said. “But he’s also lucky,†referring to his four transplants. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times / September 7, 2012)
David Trujillo's torso is a web of scars. Shunts in his arms, hoses in his stomach, garish gashes left from biopsies and scalpel incisions. In the summer when he goes shirtless, people often stare. Sometimes, to lighten the mood, he'll say he was bitten by a shark.
In reality, his body tells the tale of multiple bouts of kidney failure. David recently received yet another transplant. No. 4. He is 29 years old.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, only about 150 people since 1988 have received four kidney donations. That's out of more than 326,000 total kidney transplants.
In the year leading up to his latest surgery, David would visit a San Dimas dialysis center to have toxins removed from his blood. Four hours a day. Three times a week. The treatments left him weak and drained. He lost 40 pounds.
Read more
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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