50 Years and Counting!

At the age of 27, Guadalupe Alejos had a life-or-death decision to make: He could have a kidney transplant, or he could die.

In 1973, he was one of the first nine patients to undergo a kidney transplant, at what is now known as Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Fifty years later, that kidney is still functioning! It has allowed him to lead a full, happy, and productive life. He raised his family and now enjoys his retirement years.

Making the Decision

The future didn’t look that bright back in the mid-1960s, when he was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease called glomerular nephritis, which affected both of his kidneys. For several years, Guadalupe held the disease at bay with medication. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Lupe.

“When I married him, I knew he was sick,” Lupe said. “I knew what I was getting into. Your heart rules.” Both Guadalupe and Lupe have a great faith in God, which permeates their daily living.

By 1973, Guadalupe’s kidneys were barely functioning, and he was so ill that Lupe found him collapsed, unable to walk. He began dialysis, and William Bouman, MD, (now retired) told him his only hope was a kidney transplant.

The hospital was just starting a transplant program, and Dr. Bouman — one of its founders — cautioned Guadalupe that the transplant procedure was still unproven.

“I was so sick, that even if my chances [of survival] were 10%, I’d have taken it,” he said.

His Living Donor

Guadalupe’s six brothers were tested as potential donors, and his oldest brother, Vincente, agreed to give his brother one of his kidneys. Following the transplant, Vincente has had no issues living with just one kidney.

On July 23, 1973, Robert Levine, MD, (now deceased) — another of the program’s founders — performed what then was a new and rare procedure in Grand Rapids, transplanting the kidney into Guadalupe’s abdomen. The diseased kidneys were not removed, so Guadalupe actually has three kidneys.

Today, doctors tell their patients a kidney from a living donor lasts an average of 15 to 20 years, and from a deceased donor, 10-15 years. The longevity of Guadalupe’s kidney is miraculous.

Life After His Transplant

Every six months, Guadalupe visits the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center, and he follows a healthy lifestyle to keep his kidney functioning. For 25 years he worked in social services for the State of Michigan, retiring in 2001.

“Without the transplant, I would have been gone long ago,” Guadalupe said. “I thank God every day,” Lupe added. “Thank you for giving us every day to enjoy life.”

Because of his transplant, Guadalupe and his wife have been able to travel to Mexico and California to visit family members during these past five decades. The couple have also enjoyed raising their three children, who have given them seven grandchildren. “Now we are waiting for great grandchildren,” Lupe said with a smile.

Gratitude for the Gift of Life

As they reflected on the care they received at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Guadalupe and Lupe shared their thoughts.

“Trinity Health Grand Rapids is a hospital you can trust for a kidney transplant and other health issues. I was so lucky to have dedicated doctors who took care of all my needs. The hospital has caring and attentive people. I would recommend them by all means,” said Guadalupe. “God works in mysterious ways. I think He chose those doctors to help me and others, and to use them for His purpose.”

The Alejos family have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and proudly display her statue at their home. They attribute Guadalupe’s transplant success to Our Lady’s intervention.

Lupe added her thoughts as well: “I am so grateful to God, Vincente, and the doctors for the years we have had together. I’ve had my share of illness too. And Guadalupe was able to be there for me because of his transplant.”

The couple’s gratitude also extends to organ donors, especially living kidney donors.

“If you decide to do it,” said Lupe. “May God bless you. That is a BIG gift. I can’t say enough to those who decide to do it.”

Guadalupe also shared his appeal to living donors. “It would be very nice to donate a kidney or any other organ for the sake of sick people who need it. It is a gift of life, and when people do that, God will bless them.”

If you would like to become a living donor, click here.

About the Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center

Since 1973, The Center has performed close to 3,000 kidney transplants. It is the first and only kidney transplant center in Michigan to partner with the National Kidney Registry, an extra avenue of hope for hard-to-match patients.

One of the latest technological innovations, robotic live donor nephrectomy, has created even more opportunities for live kidney donations for our patients. Transplantation services are provided by the most experienced multidisciplinary kidney transplant team — composed of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, referral coordinators, financial coordinators, and medical assistants — in West Michigan.

Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center recently received a prestigious award.

This patient also benefitted from a kidney transplanted from his brother.