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Leo’s Promise

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From Friend to Kidney Donor:
This is a story about of an extraordinary person with an incredible respect for life.  You see, while most 35-year-old males are anticipating football season or planning their next guys’ night out, Leo Sanchez is busy making good on his promise to donate his kidney to his dear friend and former colleague, Monica Aranda. 
Leo and Monica met in 2012 when Leo was employed by Albuquerque Public Schools as a long-term substitute at the school where Monica presently  teaches. Monica has been on the kidney transplant list since 2015 due to an inherited and serious renal disorder, Polcystic Kidney Disease. When Leo learned of Monica’s failing health, he knew immediately that he wanted to help in some way. Initially, Leo thought of donating money to Monica and her family to help mitigate the high cost of medical care. Instead, as Leo witnessed Monica’s worsening health condition, he came to a more earnest and definitive conclusion; he would donate his own kidney to Monica. 

In fact, Leo has never wavered from his promise to Monica. Leo is very candid when he describes why it is so important for him to make this transplant possible for his friend. Simply stated, Leo wishes for Monica to enjoy many more quality years as a daughter, wife, mother, and teacher.

Leo’s Commitment to Keep His Promise: 
After his own health screenings and medical evaluations, Leo discovered that he was not a direct match to Monica’s transplant needs. Although somewhat discouraged, Leo decided long before that he would make good on his promise by cross donating his kidney to another patient nationwide so that Monica may in turn, receive her kidney from a matching donor. With Leo as her cross donor, Monica will be eligible for her kidney transplant soon after Leo undergoes his own surgery to donate his kidney to another patient.

Why Your Dollar Donations Are Important:
Unfortunately, soon after Leo offered to be a donor for Monica, he was laid off from his full time job at Hewlett Packard. This loss of employment  suspended Leo's surgery since non-cadaver organ donors are required to carry their own medical insurance in order to be considered candidates for organ donor surgery.  Despite this setback, your monetary donations can help Leo keep his promise to Monica.

Your Donated Dollars Will Make this Life-Saving Surgery Possible.

Leo needs $500 immediately to pay for the required first two months of health insurance so that he may proceed with the kidney donation surgery; he cannot proceed with his surgery until he can secure two months of medical insurance.

An additional $1,500 of your donated dollars will then cover 6 additional months of health insurance.

$2,000 will help cover medical insurance deductibles, medications and doctor copays.

Let's Help Leo Make Good on His Promise to Monica,

Your generosity will help Leo move to the next step in extending Monica’s life. Until Leo can afford medical insurance to have the surgery to cross donate his kidney, Monica will continue to wait for her transplant for an indefinite amount of time while she continues to suffer setbacks to her health. Leo needs your dollar donations to help cover his medical insurance so that he may undergo this life-saving surgery. 

Time is of essence in this case. Leo is willing to make his kidney donation so that Monica may in turn receive her life-saving transplant. Your dollars can make this happen if you make a life-saving donation to Leo's Promise GoFundMe campaign today!
Why This GoFund Me Campaign is Near and Dear to Me:
My name is Isela Imai and I am a teacher at the Albuquerque, NM school where Monica and Leo have impacted the lives of many young children. I have offered to use my comfort with writing and experience with photography to tell this beautiful story of friendship and respect for life through this GoFundMe campaign. This page is dedicated to the life-saving efforts of a genuine and brave young man, Leo Sanchez, and his ultimate act of selflessness as his friend faces a health crisis. I hope that you will make a financial donation to Leo's Promise Campaign and even if you can’t afford one today, please share this GoFundMe  page on your social media sites so that others may read about, donate, and share Leo’s story.
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Donations 

  • Nadine Maes
    • $50 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Leo Sanchez
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM

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