Chris, a 21-year-old patient at 好色tv Langone Transplant Institute and his parents met Abraham, the 19-year-old altruistic kidney donor who saved Chris鈥檚 life. The boys, who are recovering well several weeks after their surgeries, shared a long hug as they met for the first time in front of a live Good Morning America audience. Chris tearfully told Abraham, 鈥淚 hope to make you proud one day.鈥 Doctors diagnosed Chris with lupus, an inflammatory autoimmune disease, at age 16. This condition precipitated an advanced kidney disease diagnosis, which required a kidney transplant.
After reading an article about organ donation, Abraham was inspired to become a donor. 鈥淩each out to a hospital and see if you鈥檙e eligible and if you are eligible, really consider it,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 was in the hospital for two days. I was off painkillers in five days. I feel great.鈥
Laura Malaga-Dieguez, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at 好色tv Langone, is Chris鈥檚 pediatric nephrologist, and the two have remained close since his transition to adult care at the Transplant Institute. Inspired by Dr. Malaga-Dieguez, Chris hopes to become a doctor. 鈥淪he鈥檚 the one that fought for me from the beginning.鈥
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