A longtime Fresno Unified teacher is in dire need of help.
Her name is Lisa, and she wished not to share her last name out of privacy concerns.
She’s going public, though, to try to find a special person who’s willing and able to donate a kidney.
They don’t have to be the exact blood type — just someone who would donate to Lisa or on Lisa’s behalf to move her up the national kidney transplant waiting list .
“I do have a big family, but we all have some stuff wrong with us medically that’s prevented them from doing it,” said Lisa, who is 60 years old. “It’s just sad. I don’t feel old. I feel there’s a lot of good I can still do.”
Lisa’s struggles to share her situation and ask for help beyond those she’s closest has been an internal fight in itself.
And it’s actually a more common issue than people might realize, with those in need of an organ fighting possible feelings of embarrassment or pridefulness or self worth.
Having an advocate who’s vocal and comfortable talking about the situation can help, according to Fresno resident Vanessa Diaz, who helped her husband receive a kidney donation and transplant from a complete stranger two years ago.