Inspired by the notice on the bottom of his paycheck stubs encouraging employees to save lives through organ donation, Max Zapata got tested to be an altruistic living donor. Max was able to donate a kidney to Laura Amador, a vibrant college student stricken with kidney disease. In June 2009, they underwent surgery, which developed into a chain of donations: because his incompatible sister received a transplant, Paul gave a kidney to Kirk Larson; Kirk's wife Teresa, gave to someone else, and so on until 20 surgeries were conducted from Fresno to New York. Max's single act of giving led to ten people receiving a new life free from dialysis.

Max's Story

Max Zapata, one of 11 siblings, was born to Mike and Luz Zapata. He grew up in Selma, California in a family full of love and worship. Max is Dairy Manager for the Vons/Safeway Inc. grocery store chain in the City of Clovis, California.

While picking up his Vons paycheck sometime during 2008, there was a notice on the bottom of the paycheck stub encouraging and challenging all employees to help save lives through organ donation. "I paused and thought 'Wow!' I felt that God was working on me to do something extraordinary," explains Max. Sometime later, the same notice was printed again on Max's paycheck stub. This time, Max immediately felt compelled to do something, "I went to the hospital to gather some information, but didn't follow through and register to be tested."

Shortly thereafter, in Max's church group, someone asked for prayer for their family member who was dying from kidney failure. "I did not need any more signs, this time God told me it was time: I approached the family member and encouraged them to pray for God's will to be done. Losing faith and distraught, they found it hard to believe that help was on the way. I told them to believe and have faith because I would be tested and donate if I was a viable match," said Max. That person did receive a kidney from a family member and Max was given the opportunity to be an altruistic donor to someone else.

Max donated a healthy kidney to, Laura Amador, a 27-year-old vibrant college student stricken with kidney disease that had destroyed her kidneys and had no match within her family. On June 25, 2009 they underwent a surgical procedure that developed into a chain of donations: because his incompatible sister received a transplant, Paul gave a kidney to Kirk Larson; Kirk's wife Teresa, gave to someone else, and so on, resulting in a kidney chain of 20 surgeries linking Fresno to San Francisco to New York to Philadelphia to Los Angeles and Stanford. Who would have thought one act of giving could lead to something as powerful as a chain of people giving to one another the gift of life!

"This organ donation journey has been amazing, and the incredible part is that it's not over yet," said Max, "Michael Jackson, who passed away the very same day I donated my kidney, wrote a song which says it best: 'If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change!' We can all make a difference by as simple an action as giving a kind word to someone in need which can lead to that person being someone who makes a difference in another one's life."

In April 2011, Max spoke at the Donate Life Run/Walk ceremonies at Cal State Fullerton University. Through sharing of his altruistic donor experience, he has been very involved with Donate Life hoping to inspire others to give the gift of life.

A book highlighting Max's story, The Organ Donor Experience: Good Samaritans and the True Meaning of Altruism, by Dr. Katrina Bramstedt and Rena Down, publishes in November 2011.