Photo: The Rev. Elly Tavarro hands dialysis patient Angel Pizano, 11, of Anaheim a red rose. Photo: Bruce Chambers, The Register
LOS ANGELES – It’s been more than 20 years since Father Elly Tavarro gave a piece of himself to save a life.
The sacrifice is evident. Lifting up his shirt, a huge scar wraps around the left side of his body from his belly button to his back. In 1990, he gave a kidney to save his younger sister’s life.
“I don’t have any regrets of donating my kidney to my sister,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’m so happy. I’m so fulfilled.”
Father Tavarro shared his story about donating one of his kidneys to his sister, Richa, a nurse in the Middle East during a Onelegacy.org event.
The organization says, Asians especially Filipinos are susceptible to kidney failure from diabetes and high blood pressure. Many stay on dialysis for years not knowing that a kidney transplant can extend their life.
“If they could get a transplant, they could live up to four to sixteen years of additional life,” said Dr. Amy Waterman, Assistant Prof. of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis and creator of Explore Transplant.
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