Sarah Felice Lopez was born with a damaged liver. She fought to stay alive until age six, when she received a liver from a girl her own age, giving Sarah a new life.

Sarah's Story

Sarah Felice Lopez was born with a damaged liver. Complications soon set in, and she became seriously ill. As a newborn, she endured extensive examinations, tests and an operation. But the doctors could not find the root cause of her condition, chronic cirrhosis. She was given less than a year to live. Her life could be saved – with a liver transplant.

Sarah had the strength and determination to defeat the odds and hold on for five more years. At the age of six, she received her new liver from another six-year old girl, becoming the first pediatric liver transplant patient in New Mexico. Her new liver began to function immediately, and Sarah is now leading a very active and full life as an 18-year old student.

She later learned the name of her donor, Angel Marie Garcia. “I am extremely grateful to Angel’s family for being so generous, kind and thoughtful of others, especially in their time of grief,” said Sarah. “Because they said ‘yes’ to donation, I am healthy and alive today. Transplants are successful!”