Anything is Possible with a Loving Brother
“I won’t have to depend on a machine anymore to survive.
Now, I’m going to live,” said kidney transplant recipient Saul Arvizu. The
35-year-old recently underwent a kidney transplant at Parkland Memorial Hospital,
marking not only the end of the suffering he endured since his teens, but also
the start of a future free from pain.
And while his loved ones provided an immeasurable amount of
support during this time, one family member’s role in particular stood out from
the rest. His younger brother, Ulises, went above and beyond, going so far as
to give a piece of himself to save his sibling.
“We grew up together, played together, everything. He
understands me very well. We even shared the same clothes,” Arvizu said in
reference to his brother.
But as time passed, they’d share more than just jackets and
jeans. In an extraordinary act of selflessness, Ulises donated a kidney to
ensure his big brother lived to see another day.
A decision Arvizu expressed deep gratitude for, despite also
battling a sense of remorse over his brother’s sacrifice.
“On the other hand, I feel a little sad to have him in this
situation,” he lamented over a couple days prior to the procedure.
Showing a brotherly concern and empathy that superseded his
own health worries, even after more than 20 years of battling kidney disease
caused by a rare genetic disorder.
One in
50,000
Alport disease is a rare genetic disease characterized by a
person lacking a type of protein in the kidney, one that is essential for
filtration function. Affecting about one in 50,000 newborns, symptoms include
swelling and discomfort in the lower extremities, hearing loss and blood in the
urine.
This disease commonly begins in childhood and leads to
kidney failure in the teenage years to the 30s.
“It all started in my adolescence,” he recalled. “I began to
feel pain in my foot and knees.” Instead of seeking medical attention, he
carried on believing that the pain would eventually subside. Yet the older he
got, the worse it became.
“There were times, even as an adult, when I couldn’t get up
because of the pain,” Arvizu said. “And that’s when I got a little worried
because I knew this wasn’t normal.”
After an overdue visit to the hospital, doctors discovered
that he had high uric acid levels and was suffering from a gout attack.
“They told me my kidneys were functioning at perhaps 30% of
their capacity at that time.”
Arvizu was given medication to calm the situation, however,
his kidneys continued to slowly decline, forcing doctors to insert a catheter
and perform emergency dialysis.
But these turned out to be short-term fixes.
“This is
a very long process”
While the world dealt with a nationwide pandemic in 2020,
Arvizu’s plate was already full — showing up to Parkland with a heavy heart and
weakened immune system.
With his kidneys now functioning at less than 15%, his
future was called into question.
Peritoneal dialysis, which is a home-based treatment for
kidney failure, removed Arvizu’s pain, even returning some of the energy and
joy he previously lost.
“I can do things that I couldn’t do before because of the
pain. But peritoneal dialysis is only a temporary lifeline. The goal was to
have a kidney.”
But historically, kidneys aren’t exactly the easiest thing
to come by.
Despite being on the waiting list, there is a limited
availability of kidneys for transplant.
Fortunately, Arvizu has a village behind him ready to do
whatever was needed. Unfortunately, there was yet another challenge — this time
for his family — to overcome.
The
Biggest Winner
Compatibility testing began in 2024 among his siblings to
see who could donate their kidney. But they ran into a problem.
“Unfortunately, we’re a little overweight so they didn’t
qualify,” Arvizu said. And a weight requirement is crucial to prevent any
surgical complications.
Still, Ulises was determined to lose weight. According to
his big brother, he started exercising and eating healthier, undergoing an
incredible transformation in the process. He lost over 50 pounds in about a
year’s time.
“My brother lost all that weight to help me,” Arvizu
thankfully reflected days before surgery. “He’s going to give me life.”
And on February 23, 2026, Ulises did just that when he and
his brother underwent kidney transplant surgery. Two separate operations — one
for the donor and another for the recipient — that require the kidney to be
removed, flushed with preservation solution and sewn into the beneficiary.
In other words, it marked a fresh start — a new lease on
life and an opportunity to move forward.
“I feel
reborn”
With about a month removed from surgery, Arvizu already
feels better. Recovery typically takes around two to three months, but he feels
80% of the way there and is steadily regaining his strength each day.
“Everything went great. My brother and I are doing very
well,” he said. “The whole team at Parkland has been very, very good to me. The
doctors are extremely professional. But above all, they’re kind.”
The joy in his life has once again returned. Only this time,
the feeling isn’t temporary because he now has a permanent solution to his
once-age-old problem.
There are even foods that Arvizu can eat again after decades
of his kidneys limiting his diet. “I didn’t realize all the things I didn’t
used to do. It feels like I’ve tasted spicy food for the first time,” he said excitedly.
Yet his gratefulness doesn’t just extend to food. As he understands
and empathizes with people who need transplants but never find a donor.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, about
90,000 people in the U.S. are awaiting a kidney transplant, and 11 die each day
while on the waiting list.
“It’s something that hurts me because many people don’t have
that support,” he said.
After reaching the light at the end of his tunnel, Arvizu
wants to help others reach theirs.
And that starts with encouraging people to register as a kidney
donor. “The reality is technology has advanced and it’s not very risky,” Arvizu
concluded. “Hopefully people will be encouraged to donate because there are
many people who need it.”
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