The duo are both doing well.
SAN ANTONIO — This Father’s Day, a hardworking father and husband will celebrate another year of life with his new kidney – happily donated by his daughter.
According to San Antonio’s Methodist Hospital, Eloisa Valdez donated a kidney to her father, Adan Valdez on May 14 – an unforgettable experience that changed the family.
Adan, a father of three worked for 22 years as the sole provider for his family but everything changed in 2024 when Adan was brought to the hospital after experiencing shortness of breathe and fatigue. The doctors prescribed medication and sent him home – where Adan suffered a heart attack. Then in June 2024, Adan was diagnosed with end stage renal failure with no prior health complications.
“In all of those 22 years, he never took a day off, except one time,” Adan’s wife, Carmen Valdez said. “He never even asked for pain pills.”
Adan said he was in denial and despite his family urging him to stop working and to start dialysis he refused. He continued to work for three months until a near-death experience sent him back to the hospital, according to a press release from Methodist Hospital.
Afterwards Adan and Carmen visited their daughter, Eloisa in Austin to share the news.
Upon hearing about her father’s health condition, Eloisa decided to get tested. Carmen had previously been tested but was not a match. Eloisa was later determined to be a match for her father, allowing her to become a living donor.
Adan was initially hesitant to accept his daughter’s kidney due to the potential risks for Eloisa but her mind was made up.
“As soon as I found out my dad was sick, I knew I had to do something. I’d rather lose one kidney than lose my dad,” Eloisa said.
The surgery took place at Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant – the largest living donor transplant program in the nation.
Since the surgery, Eloisa has become a role model for her six children and says her life has changed for the better.
“It’s extremely rewarding, and life is so beautiful,” she said.
And now her children call her a real-life superhero. “You saved my grandpa,” they tell her.
Officials with Methodist Hospital said Adan is doing better every day.
He also urges others who suffer from kidney failure to accept the reality and move forward with dialysis.
“Don’t lose hope,” Adan said.
