10/13/2026
"In early February 2013, I began experiencing a range of concerning symptoms, including extreme fatigue, unexplained weight gain, loss of appetite, abdominal swelling and severe back pain. At the time, I had no idea these symptoms were signs of liver failure. Concerned for my health, my mother urged me to go to the emergency room.
I went to Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, where I was admitted due to elevated liver enzymes, dark urine and dangerously thin blood. Despite extensive testing, doctors were initially unable to determine the cause of my rapidly declining health.
As my condition worsened, I was transferred to California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco for further evaluation, including specialized testing, ultrasounds and liver biopsies. There, I finally received a diagnosis: Wilson's disease, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from properly processing copper. Over time, the excess copper accumulates in vital organs, particularly the liver, causing severe damage and, ultimately, liver failure.
The only treatment available at that stage was a liver transplant.
By then, my body was beginning to shut down. I was placed on the transplant waiting list and, in less than a week, a donor liver became available. On March 13, 2013, I underwent an eight-hour transplant surgery. I have no memory of being taken into the operating room or waking up afterward.
Later, I learned that my donor was a 10-year-old boy. Although I will never know his family, I carry immense gratitude for the extraordinary gift they gave me during what was undoubtedly the most difficult time of their lives. His selfless gift not only saved my life but allowed me to continue living the future I never thought I would have.
My recovery was long, challenging, and filled with obstacles, but it was also filled with hope. Since my transplant, I have gone on to have three more children, meet my spouse, build a beautiful life and share my story with others. Every day is a reminder of the precious gift I was given and the resilience of the human spirit." ~Anjelica Maldonado, liver recipient
Thank you, Anjelica, for sharing your journey with us!
Make the future possible for those waiting for the gift of life. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.
