Dot Delarosa

Organ recipient

Age 50 – San Antonio, TX

Honored by Donate Life Texas

At 50 years old, Dorothy “Dot” Delarosa from San Antonio has a lot to be thankful for after receiving a second chance at life, thanks to an organ donor. Dot was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or scarring of the lung, and relied on her oxygen tank 24/7 in order to perform simple tasks like walking, eating and bathing. Given only two-to-five years to live, her only hope was a life-saving transplant. On June 7, 2010, she received a left lung. “Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my organ donor for gifting me the most selfless gift humanly possible—my lung,” said Dot. To honor her donor’s family, Dot volunteers with several organizations in Texas, to encourage others to sign up and save lives. She is honored to be part of the 2018 Donate Life Float, and she is grateful for her donor’s gift and for the countless others who have given through donation.

Dot’s Story

At 50 years old, Dorothy “Dot” Delarosa from San Antonio has a lot to be thankful for after being given a second chance at life. “It’s bittersweet because while I am so very thankful for my ‘bonus’ seven years of life, I understand that there is a family that is mourning while I am living,” said Dot.

Dot was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or scarring of the lung, and relied on her oxygen tank 24/7 in order to perform simple tasks like walking, eating and bathing. Given only two-to-five years to live, her only hope was a life-saving transplant. On June 7, 2010, she received a left lung from a heroic donor.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my organ donor hero for gifting me the most selfless gift humanly possible—my lung,” said Dot.

Although they have never met, she honors her donor hero’s family by volunteering with several donation partners including Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, sharing “their story” everywhere she goes to encourage others to sign up and save lives with the Donate Life Texas state registry.

As a pastor with San Antonio’s Prosperity in Christ Church, Dot shares the message of donation with her congregation and was featured in a 2016 National Donor Sabbath video for Donate Life Texas: https://tinyurl.com/PastorDot.

“My life has never been the same. I am able to breathe, walk, dance, eat—LIVE,” said Dot. “My passion is to tell everyone about my hero. To participate as part of Donate Life America’s Rose Parade float in gratitude of my donor’s gift and the countless others who have given through donation is a true honor.”