Celina Medina

Type of Donation:      

Age and Location:      Age 52 – Long Beach, CA

Date of Donation:           January 13, 2000 and 05/25/2019

Sponsor:                      Honored by OneLegacy

CELINA’S STORY

Celina Medina's journey started at the age of 18 months, when her parents noticed that her eyelids were becoming extremely swollen. She was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, a kidney disorder that causes your body to pass too much protein in your urine. At the age of 2, she had her first open kidney biopsy which confirmed her diagnosis. Doctors also notified her parents that there was severe scar tissue and that she would eventually need a kidney transplant.



When Celina was 23 years old, she became pregnant with her first daughter. Celina had to follow a strict regimen of medications and regular hospital visits to monitor both her health and her baby's development. Arianna was born at 31 weeks with no severe complications, and she grew up to be a healthy young woman. Over the next 3 years, Celina noticed major changes in her health. She was told that she would need to start on dialysis. Her decision to be placed on peritoneal dialysis was going to be the best choice of treatment for her. During this time, her siblings were tested to become living donors. Her brother, Marco Antonio Medina, was the best match out of Celina's siblings. The news that Marco Antonio was the best match brought a mixture of relief and anxiety to the family. On January 13, 2000, Marco Antonio successfully donated his kidney. Celina's body responded well to the transplant, and her new kidney began to function almost immediately. Marco Antonio was in good spirits, grateful that he could save his sister's life. Marco Antonio's gift of life allowed Celina to enjoy more than eight years without dialysis. In April 2008, she started back on dialysis. This time around she would have to be placed on the transplant waiting list. Eleven years later, on May 25, 2019, she received "The Call." A donor had become available. This brought a ray of hope to an otherwise dark situation. Thanks to her two donors, Celina was able to see her two daughters grow and graduate from university. Over the last 4 years, Celina has dedicated her time to volunteer for OneLegacy as a OneLegacy Ambassador, sharing her story and inspiring local communities to say "YES" to organ, eye and tissue donation.