Hi, my name is Paola Sotomayor, and I would truly appreciate your help and support in funding a kidney transplant and sustaining my medical care.

I am currently 49 years old, and in my early 20s, I was a track and field runner, strong and full of energy. Those who know me personally know that I have been an entrepreneur and an independent person for many years. I am a trained chef who once specialized in baking sugar-free cakes and cookies for people with diabetes. I also established my own business, a cardboard factory, and took pride in helping others live healthier lives.

However, in 1995, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes—also known as juvenile diabetes—an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The symptoms appeared suddenly and included extreme thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision.

For years, I was able to manage my condition with insulin therapy without major complications. Unfortunately, two years ago, I was hospitalized with pneumonia and low hemoglobin levels. After a series of lab tests, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. Type 1 diabetes often leads to a gradual decline in kidney function, and while medical advances have improved survival, many of us face irreversible kidney damage that critically affects our health and quality of life.

Currently, I undergo two to three sessions of hemodialysis each week. This treatment helps perform the vital functions my kidneys can no longer handle—filtering waste and removing excess fluids from my blood. Although hemodialysis is life-saving, it cannot replace the hormones the kidneys produce, so I also depend on additional medications to survive.

Since my diagnosis in 2023, I have been hospitalized numerous times and now require oxygen support and a wheelchair because of low oxygen levels. Despite all of this, I continue to fight every day and consider myself a survivor. My doctors tell me there is hope—if I can find a compatible donor and undergo a kidney transplant surgery.

I am asking for your support to help me raise the funds necessary to cover my medical expenses, including the transplant procedure. Over the past two years, I have relied on the support of my mother, Elsa, a 74-year-old retired accountant who has been my greatest strength, and my brother, Arturo, age 54. My relatives, friends, and beloved dog nurse, Yoko, have also been by my side. Yoko, an energetic British bull terrier, often alerts my mom at night when my blood sugar drops and stays beside me when I am feeling unwell.

There are many ways you can help—by contributing to my cause or by considering becoming a kidney donor. Kidneys are among the most needed organs in the medical community, and a single kidney can save a life. It is one of the body’s smallest organs, but without it, life becomes unsustainable. Kidney failure is tragically common among patients with chronic diseases.

This disease is not new to my family. My father, Arturo Ignacio Sotomayor, was a long-time survivor of lupus, but he ultimately lost his battle against the disease due to kidney failure. He was a marathon runner, accountant, husband, beloved son, and brother. My father passed away on August 18, 1995, after nearly two decades of courage and perseverance. I dedicate this page to his memory—his resilience and faith in life continue to inspire me to keep fighting and to stay hopeful about the future.

Thank you, Dad, for your inspiration—and thank you to everyone reading this for considering my cause and helping me fight for a second chance at life.

With gratitude,

Paola Sotomayor