By Kayleen Holder
Editor
If the wonderful story shared by the Martinez family this week inspired you, we wanted to let you know that a 10-year-old little girl in Lytle will soon be on the waiting list for a living kidney donation. Alessa Nino is a 4th grader at Lytle ISD.
In fact she was seeing her kidney doctor for a check-up as we were going to press.
“When she got the flu her kidney function dropped from 22% to %15. Anything lower and she will need the transplant,” her mom said in an update this Tuesday.
Because dialysis would be extremely traumatic for a child her age, her medical team is hoping to find a person who is a match for Alessa who is willing to donate a kidney to Alessa when the time comes.
“The goal is to go straight to transplant with no dialysis, so we need to have someone on standby when it’s time,” her mom adds. “And if we can find a living donor with blood type B the kidney can last up to 30 years.”
Alessa is on the list for a deceased donor, but a kidney from a living donor would be ideal as the organ has less chance of rejection and can last up to 20-30 years compared to 10-15 years.
And there is no telling the many ways this young lady could change the world in the next 20-30 years if that generous donor sees her story and comes forward!
“I want to be a doctor, teacher, or a nail artist!” Alessa said, on her way home from a doctor’s appointment. To her future kidney donor, whoever they may be, she wants to say a big “Thank you very much!”
She said she is eager to be able to cheer, dance, play with her toys in the coming years. Alessa also loves singing at church.
Alessa is the daughter of Juan and Mayra Nino of Lytle, and she is the oldest sister with five siblings: Marcos, Juaquin, Alia, Alani, and Juan Jr.
GET TESTED
If you have two healthy kidneys, you may be able to donate one to Alessa. Find out if you are a match by checking out UTCLivingDonor.com
“There is a place when you go to that website where you can put her name in the form if you would like to donate to her (Alessa Nino),” her mom said.
The transplant team will get in contact with those who are a match once they get tested. Alessa’s insurance will pay for the donor’s medical surgery.
If you are interested in being tested to see if you are a match for Alessa, please reach out to her mom at 210-449-4696.