Xavier McLeod

Type of Donation:          kidney recipient

Age and Location:          Age 18 – Lemon Grove, CA

Donation Date:             8/06/2007

Sponsor:                   Honored by Donate Life California

XAVIER’S STORY

Xavier McLeod was born with a condition called Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV), which is an abnormality of the urethra and when he was diagnosed they told his mom, Valerie they weren’t sure if he would make it through the night. As a result, Xavier suffered from chronic renal failure. Xavier spent many nights at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, CA. He had more surgeries before the age of three than many of us will have in a lifetime.

As Xavier’s kidney function began to worsen, he was placed on the National Organ Transplant List on October 6, 2005. As he waited for a kidney, Xavier required 10hrs of dialysis each night, growth hormone and anemia shots, and tube feedings. Two years later, on August 4, 2007, two families’ lives were changed forever. Sam McCrow and his family were vacationing in San Diego, CA when his young life came to an end. Sam was doing what he loved to do most, surfing. He had spent the day at Mission Beach teaching his cousins how to surf. As the avid surfer stepped out of the water, he collapsed. Despite every effort to save his life, Sam died from a brain aneurysm. On August 6, Sam and his family said yes to organ donation and gave Xavier the Gift of Life. Sam’s gift changed Xavier’s life. Xavier was named Youth Athlete of the Year at the 2014 Transplant Games of America and enjoys running track and playing drums.

As Sam’s sister Kaisa once said, “through loss and tragedy there are a lot of beautiful things that can happen.” Xavier’s mom watched with tears in her eyes as Xavier walked across the stage in June to receive his High School Diploma. This is a journey that the McCrow family is sharing with them, a journey that has brought two families together. Sam’s picture sits on their fireplace along with the rest of their family photos. Xavier promotes organ, eye and tissue donation by volunteering his time with Lifesharing.