By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Victor Blanco, who recently underwent a successful kidney transplant procedure, has long encouraged others to become an organ donor. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
The most important search of Victor Blanco’s life has come to an end and with it nearly three years of exhaustive medical treatment, financial strain and emotional distress.
After battling end-stage renal disease since his diagnosis in November 2010, Victor, 29, said his prayers were answered recently when a matching kidney donor was found in April. Over a month later, following an intense recovery from kidney transplant surgery, Victor’s body has thus far accepted the donated organ.
The procedure, which Victor said his doctors deemed a success, came after bouts of depression and frustration, largely due to the grueling effects of dialysis treatment. Still, the 2002 San Benito High School graduate insists that his faith never wavered; in fact, Victor decided to use his time productively while waiting for a potential donor.
Facing mounting medical costs, Victor – already an advocate for organ donation – established “Victor’s Hope” as a means to promote awareness. He and Mari De Leon of Victor’s Hope have organized numerous events that have raised approximately $2,000 to help pay for transplant expenses and other costs associated with his treatment.
“The pre-dialysis medication is very expensive,” Victor said, adding that such burdens, although not completely alleviated, will now be significantly lessened thanks to the kidney transplant.
“You’re always going to be in that danger zone, so that’s why you have to follow the rules and take your medicine on time,” he continued about post-transplant life. “If you have an issue, start bleeding, have pain, get sick like a runny nose or a sore throat, you have to call the transplant center. But they say the kidney’s working beautifully. I’ve been drinking a lot of water, which is important, and have had my levels checked. It’s perfect right now.”
Victor’s search for a kidney began almost three years ago. Noticing that swelling in his feet had not reduced, he decided to visit his doctor at San Benito Medical Associates in November 2010.
“My doctor said he couldn’t find anything wrong with me and couldn’t figure out why my feet were swollen,” Victor said. “He was very concerned and had me taken to the ER (emergency room) at Harlingen Medical Center, and that’s where they did more medical tests but still couldn’t figure it out, that is until the doctor asked for an MRI.”
“Sure enough,” Victor added, “We learned that my kidneys were too small and had never fully developed. So I immediately started dialysis because my kidneys were not functioning like they were supposed to…they were overworked because they were too small.”
Now diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, which is also referred to as chronic kidney disease, Victor, a member of the KVEO Channel 23 Promotions Department staff, said preserving his faith was paramount.
“It (diagnosis) affected me, but I had to stay positive,” Victor said. “I had my good days and bad days when I would get out of treatment. It wasn’t easy at all. It was something you had to overcome; with the pain you just had to have the mentality of staying strong no matter what. Right after dialysis, if I didn’t go to work, I had to go to the gym and do light walks, and I still ran at least two miles after dialysis to get my mind off of it. That was incredible. My boss would always tell me that I could go home if I wanted to, but I never made an excuse. I just asked God for the strength and kept on going like that.”
It had been over two years since Victor was on the South Texas Transplant Center donor waiting list in McAllen when – based on a suggestion – he decided to register at the Galveston Transplant Center this January.
“Since I already hit a two-year mark with no results, it was suggested to do dual enrollment at another hospital to have two transplant centers working for me,” Victor said. “So I did the same procedure, met another team there and stayed on the list. I continued dialysis, continued having faith, and on April 20, at 9:30 p.m., I got the phone call from Galveston that they had found a kidney for me…I was number one on the list and number two for another (kidney).”
At the time he received the call, Victor said he was with a friend who insisted on taking him to Galveston that evening. There was just one thing Victor said he had to do first. “Getting that phone call and acknowledging that a miracle was about to happen, I stayed calm, prayed and thanked God,” Victor recalled of his initial reaction. “My friend Pablo Sanchez (also of San Benito) and I were on the road when I got that phone call. I stopped on the side of the road, I told him what was going on, he hugged me and said, ‘Let’s go, I’m taking you now,’ and that this was a sign from God. So my family and I packed and left the Valley at 1 a.m. with Pablo, who personally took me to Galveston. It was something he wanted to do.”
His only memory of the six-hour procedure consisted of being asked to count backwards from 10, reaching 8 and then waking in a recovery room. Although in pain, Victor said he was ecstatic to learn that he was urinating without difficulty.
“The doctors were there and said I did amazing; it was working,” Victor said of his donated kidney. “I just couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Wow, we’re done.’ I had reached my ultimate goal of receiving a kidney transplant. God gave me a second chance at life.”
Everything that followed Victor accomplished in time; he walked his first day after surgery, returned home after four days and went back to work a month later. In addition, Victor has a kidney brother, Humberto Pastran of Houston, whom he’s remained in contact with since the transplant.
It’s also interesting to note that Victor’s transplant occurred in April, which is designated as Organ Donation Month.
“I never stopped believing,” Victor remarked, further crediting his family for “much needed support,” including his mother Ana Blanco, step father Richard Buenrostro, brother Christopher Blanco, sisters Anabel Marquez David, Irene Marquez and Frances Marquez; Paul David and baby Benjamin Marquez David. “I continued praying, my grandma prayed for me, my mom and all my friends. I always believed that one day I would get that call, and sure enough I did. I got it on April 20 at 9:30 p.m. God was watching over me. The rest is history.”
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