I Donated Through the Voucher Program to Help My Son: Verónica Arboleda’s Kidney Donation Story

My son, who lives in Philadelphia, was diagnosed with IGA nephropathy in 2019 or 2020. When he told me about it, he was at about 50% kidney function, but then as the years passed, the percentage went lower and lower and lower.  

By 2024, I decided to get a blood test to see if I could be a direct donor for him. We are the same blood type, and I was told I could probably be a match for him. In December 2024, I went to Penn Medicine to do all the tests. I had a complete physical, an EKG, did the two-day urine collection, and they took 23 vials of blood. I met with the nephrologist, social worker, nutritionist—the whole team.  

On March 12, I got the call that I was approved as a donor. But then on March 14, I received another call that the two teams had decided I could not donate directly to him because of his condition. They told me about the Voucher Program and explained everything to me.

I had never had surgery before. I was very scared. I didn’t know how it was going to turn out, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it.  

I am also a very active person. I work out every day, I swim, go mountain biking, take salsa dance class—I do everything you could imagine. I knew one of the things that I would have to put aside is my lifestyle, at least temporarily.  

It took me two months to think everything through and make a decision. I talked to a psychologist to try to evaluate everything, and I decided I was going to move forward with the donation through the Voucher Program.  

They told me it might take a year or two for them to find the perfect kidney for my son. I said it didn’t matter. I have faith: God is with me in the process, and I know it will be sooner than that.  

A week before my surgery, he got a call that they had a kidney for him. It worked out so well. He was scheduled for surgery one month after mine, so I was able to be there for him during his recovery the same way he was there for me.

I had my pre-admission appointment at Penn on August 24. The good thing about that is that my son’s birthday is August 26, so we were able to celebrate his birthday together. I was still very scared, but I asked my son to take me to church on September 3. I was thankful for God letting me be there to help my son.  

My donation surgery was on September 4, 2025. On the day of the surgery, I was not nervous at all. I went there like I knew everything that was going to happen. The whole team gave me confidence that everything was going to be all right. I asked them to play a song for me in the operating room: Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida.” I was so calm.  

Everything went well, and after all that, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. The only thing to be afraid of was not being able to help my son. I was so grateful that I was able to.  

My recovery went well. The first week was hard, I’m not going to lie. After the second week, I was recovering very well. Even though I could not be a direct match for my son, I think everything worked out perfectly.  

My son got his transplant on October 7. Everything went well for him. He is doing great, thank God. I could not be happier.  

I want to share my story because I know a lot of people are probably in the same position I was. I want them to know that if you’ve never had surgery before, it’s OK to be scared. But when I look back now, I think, why was I so scared? These days, medicine is so advanced, there is nothing to be scared about.  

I am back in Puerto Rico, and my son is back home in Virginia. We have been very blessed. There are so many people going through this, but I didn’t know till it happened to us.  

There are a lot of people who need help. Donating through the Voucher Program let me give life to someone I don’t even know, in addition to helping my son. I feel blessed that I could help another person as well.

About the Author

Verónica was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has worked in the advertising industry for over 20 years and currently serves as a project manager at VML Advertising Agency, where she has been for 15 years. She is a true Caribbean girl who loves the beach, music, dancing, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and mountain biking.