Our Story Has to Make You Believe in a Higher Power: Kiara Hernández’s Kidney Donation Story

Back in 2013, my cousin was sick and had to fly out of Puerto Rico to receive treatment. I knew she was sick, but I did not know the extent of what it meant to have kidney failure and to be on dialysis and all the details involved when your kidneys are not working.  

At that time, I was in my junior year at the University of Puerto Rico, and while studying I also had two, sometimes three jobs. I was very independent. One day, I posted on Facebook about wanting to go to the movies or get sushi. My aunt commented on my post and said: Why don’t you come to Miami and we can do both? I thought, why not? I work hard, and this would be a chance to catch up with my family, who I hadn’t seen in a while.

When I was in Miami, I got to see the process that my cousin was going through and how long dialysis takes—it’s multiple hours a day, multiple times a week. We are only about two years apart, so seeing that, I couldn’t imagine if it were happening to me.

At that age, you have so many dreams and goals, and she was having to stop everything to deal with the disease and the treatment because her life depended on it. It was kind of a shock for me.  

During my trip, I had no idea or intention that I would even get tested as a donor. At the time, my two cousins (her brothers) and one of their girlfriends at the time were all getting tested as donors. None of them were a match, which was very hard news for my cousin.  

I had seen her cheerful and happy and her regular self going to treatment, being pretty normal under the circumstances. That day, I saw her break a little. Those chances to get back to her normal life were now not an option. That was also a shock for me. When we got the news, we were in the car, and tears came down her face.  

If you don’t believe in a higher power, our story has to make you believe in something. I wasn’t even supposed to be there that day: my flight got canceled, so I had to stay an extra day, and that was the day they got the news that no one was a match. Everything happens for a reason. 

That day when we got back to the house, I started Googling about donating a kidney. I learned that it’s not that big of a deal: people have a normal life expectancy and can live normal lives with one kidney. I thought, this is not as complicated as it seems, so why not get tested? I did not necessarily expect to be a match. I knew I might also be a no, but I would at least try. 

That night, I called my dad, who is a pastor. I did not call my mom because moms will be moms. He told me to pray on it and sleep on it and ask for guidance, but if that was my decision, he would be supportive.  

The next morning, I went downstairs and said to my aunt: What if I get tested? She said, are you sure, you don’t have to do this. I said if there is a chance, then why not?  

My cousin woke up and we all talked about it. I stayed a couple of extra days so I could get all the testing done right away. I was at the hospital for a full day and then came back to Puerto Rico, not worrying or even thinking about it. I thought it would either happen or not. 

One day I was at work, and I got the call: I was a match. I called my aunt and told her and she started screaming and crying.  

We planned everything to be done during my Thanksgiving break from college. Our surgeries were on November 13, 2013, and the transplant was a success. Afterward, I came back to Puerto Rico, and two months later I hopped on a plane to study abroad for a semester in Spain. 

It has now been 13 years since my donation, and I don’t have any side effects or anything else. I do routine checkups, and my kidney has not been compromised. I live my life normally, I work out, and I try to eat healthy because I have to protect my one and only kidney. 

I am grateful that I got to have this experience and become an advocate for living donation for those who may be on the fence about it. I am always open to talking about it because I now know how lifesaving living donation can be.

About the Author

Kiara Hernández was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and is the oldest of three siblings. She earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising from the University of Puerto Rico, with a minor in business communication, before going on to become a business owner and entrepreneur. 
 
In 2013, at just 20 years old, Kiara made the life-changing decision to donate one of her kidneys to her cousin. Since the transplant, she has lived a completely normal and healthy life, with no long-term repercussions. More than a decade later, she continues to thrive, building her business, staying active, and advocating by example that living kidney donation is not the end of a full life, but a continuation of one. 
 
Outside of work, Kiara is passionate about rescuing Puerto Rican satos (mixed-breed street dogs) and supporting local animal nonprofits whenever she can. Living on an island, she naturally finds peace at the beach, and in 2025 she began running, something that has since become a powerful outlet for her mental health and overall well-being. 
 
Kiara hopes her story encourages others to consider living donation and shows that it’s possible to give the gift of life while continuing to live yours fully.