Double Transplant

DENISON, Texas (KTEN) — Andrew Garcia is waiting for his second chance.

The 38-year-old father of two who lives in the Bryan County community of Cartwright has suffered from type 1 diabetes since he was nine years old. In 2019, Garcia received unexpected news.

"So now he's going to need a double transplant — kidney and pancreas — which is a traumatic surgery to go through," explained Jonathon Cregg Moody, Garcia's stepfather.

And now it's more urgent than ever for him to receive these new organs.

"The way my diabetes is right now, and my kidneys not working, I won't be here too much longer," Garcia said. "I mean, you can survive for a while on it, but it's not the way I want to live the rest of my life."

He's been on a transplant waiting list for three years. Garcia says it's been a long journey, but he's ready for the call that a donor has been identified.

"If I can get it... if I'm lucky enough... it would be life-changing. Not for just me, but all my family," he said.

He's in a good place to be in order to go through this surgery, so that's one thing he has to do," Moody said. "And then he has to get the funds raised for afterward."

If you would like to reach out or help the family in any way, you can visit Cregg Moody's Facebook page for more information.