Priest's New Kidney, Living Donor's Gift

0:00It's April 16. Welcome in. This is Tampa Bay News today, where local news meets AI. Father Raymond Reyes, a priest from South San Francisco, just got a new kidney from his fellow priest, Father Francis Garbo. The transplant happened in January at Sutter Health in San Francisco, and both are recovering strong. Reyes calls it his new and holy kidney, and he's already feeling like his old self after years of struggling with kidney disease. Back in 2019, Reyes learned he had kidney issues that got worse, landing him on dialysis by last year. Doctors pushed him to seek a living donor since the wait for a deceased one can drag on for seven to ten years in California. He hesitated at first, not wanting to burden folks, but put out the word anyway. Doesn't stepped up, including about 40 parishioners and four other priests, which blew Reyes away. Turns out Garbo, a longtime friend of 27 years from another San Francisco mission was the perfect match after testing.

1:00These two bonded through ministry, now share even more. Doctors there are stress-living donors save lives, especially with those long waits where too many don't make it. Reyes went from weak legs and hands-on dialysis to mobile and ready to preach again by months end. Reyes plans to hit the pulpit April 26th, then team up with Garbo for a service, May 3rd at his church. He'll also support others in transplant waits, turning his story into hope for the dialysis crowd.