A Second Chance: Xtra perspective on El Paso man’s life-saving double-organ transplant
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An ailment that's all too common among Borderland residents took a serious toll on one El Paso man in particular.
ABC-7 is sharing his story in hopes of educating others and hopefully preventing the same fate - or worse.
Anthony Molinar was 32 years old when he had to begin dialysis.
This the latest health hurdle he faced since doctors diagnosed him with Type I diabetes at the age of 6.
"(I) couldn't have sugar, candies and no regular sodas," Molinar said. "I had to check my sugar and do insulin all the time. It just wasn't something I was used to," he added. "Being young, I didn't think that it was life threatening, or it was major."
Molinar's mom, Yvette Delgadillo, struggled to get her son to consistently follow the medication routine.
"I think I've always just hovered over his medical condition," she said. "He went through low blood sugars that brought on the comatose status where, you know, we had to call 911, to have paramedics come and revive them a couple of times. Actually, it was more than a couple of times," Delgadillo added.
Molinar endured more diabetes-related problems in his 20s. Doctors told him he was bleeding internally, behind his eyes. But Molinar told ABC-7 he didn't address it until it was almost too late.
"Right before my 30th birthday, I started losing my eyesight in both eyes. I had a bilateral detachment," Molinar explained. "I couldn't drive (or) see the lines; everything was just kind of out of focus."
Molinar's mother chimed in. "I thought this isn't going to get better if we don't seek help."
Then -- another major health hurdle.
Molinar's kidneys began to fail.
He was put on dialysis in June of 2020, just a few months into the global COVID-19 pandemic.
"I knew that that was the last step before you go. And I don't know," he paused as his eyes welled up with tears, "I didn't have much hope."
At almost the same time, Delgadillo lost her job due to the pandemic.
"It came at the right time, because I was able to be home with him," she said. "And we went through the education together."
Ultimately, Molinar needed a kidney transplant. But because diabetes can damage tissue, doctors thought it would be best if he also got a new pancreas, the organ that controls the body's blood sugar level.
The transplanted organs typically come from one person, and the wait is on average 3 years for both organs. A simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant is fairly common, but not performed in El Paso. Molinar would have to fly at a moment's notice to Dallas.
Delgadillo said she did all she could to support her son.
"A lot of prayer," she said. "I'm an optimist. I believe, you know, good things will come your way."
Molinar tried to mimic his mother's optimism, he said, as his eyes misted over while he mentally relived that stressful time in his life.
"I've gotten through everything before, and I can do this. I can get through it."
Molinar told ABC-7 about February 4, the day he got word that after 2 years and 8 months, he was going to get a double transplant.
"I heard my phone rang and I saw it was Dallas, and I answered right away. And they're like, 'Hey, we have a kidney and pancreas for you. Are you ready?' And I was like, 'No, but tell me anyway. I'm not saying no, but I'm ready.'"
Three months later, he's diabetes-free, and full of hope.
"Now that I have these new organs and another chance, it's almost like a rebirth," Molinar said, smiling. "I feel like, not only do I have a second chance, but I feel like I need to do more while I'm here."
Sign up to become an organ donor here.
Molinar has created a GoFundMe page to help cover medical expenses.
