Stories of Hope
Adilem
Adilem, from Colorado Springs, received a life-saving liver transplant when she was just six months old. Although she was born seemingly healthy, by two months old, her skin began to turn a deep yellow. After a liver biopsy and further tests doctors discovered her liver was failing. Despite undergoing a procedure called the Kasai surgery, it was unsuccessful, and Adilem was placed on the transplant waitlist.
Four months later, thanks to the selfless generosity of a donor family, Adilem received a new liver. This remarkable gift changed her life forever, allowing her to grow up strong, healthy, and full of joy.
“Every day, I think about Jack, the donor, and his parents. There are no words to express my gratitude; they gave my daughter the gift of life,” says Milagros Estrello, Adilem’s mother.
Adilem’s transplant gave her the chance to grow, laugh, and live fully, reminding us all of the priceless value of organ and tissue donation.
More Stories
Phil
Phil of Denver knows the profound uncertainty of waiting for a lifesaving transplant. His journey began when he faced the sudden and devastating onset of liver and kidney failure, a shocking reality that thrust him onto the transplant waitlist. But throughout the darkest moments, his Catholic faith became a wellspring of strength, offering him peace […]
Tony
Organ donation stories weave us together across the country. Tony of Parker, Colo., never would have imagined sharing such a special bond with a woman named Robin who lives in Texas. When Tony was 25-years-old he had his first heart attack. Then he suffered another one when he was 30. In 2020, Tony was added […]
Lella
Some donor recipient stories start at childhood. At only 2 months old, Lella, of Delta, Colo. suffered from a rare liver condition and was added to the organ transplant waitlist. Five months later, a family’s decision during a dark moment provided Lella with a bright future. She received a lifesaving and healing gift – a […]