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Desouza family’s kidney donation journey a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of selfless giving
Kenneth Desouza’s eyes fluttered open, a shallow breath escaping his lips as tears welled up.
The profound relief following his four-hour kidney transplant surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia left him in awe. His heart full, he immediately thanked God and then called his fiancée, Nicollette Gauthier, to ease her worries.
Nurses hurried down the hall to deliver the good news to his mother, Patricia, who had undergone surgery just hours earlier to selflessly donate her kidney to a stranger and was now in recovery. Moments later, her husband, Larri, phoned from the waiting room.
“Kenny’s surgery was a success,” he exclaimed with excitement.
Their relief was indescribable.
Their gratitude was immeasurable — to God, the unnamed kidney donor from Wisconsin, and countless doctors, hospital staff, family members, and friends.
“I’m grateful and appreciative of that angel who gave my son this gift,” says Patricia Desouza, a Peckville section of Blakely small business owner, life coach, public speaker, mentor, eight-year member of The Wright Center for Community Health Board of Directors, and active Peckville Assembly of God volunteer. “It’s a blessing to provide someone with the opportunity to live a full life.”
For her eldest of three sons, the life-altering gift he received on April 30 has opened doors long closed by numerous health challenges and hospitalizations over the years.
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 12 and later with a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome in his late teens, his activities as an adult were further restricted by a chest catheter required for dialysis. It even prevented him from enjoying simple pleasures, like taking long showers, which are now high on his to-do list.
“I’m going to take the longest shower ever,” says the 27-year-old talented musician who plays 10 instruments, manages a gas station, and volunteers as a youth minister with Gauthier. “I’m going to go jet skiing, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, and I’m definitely going to eat. I’ve always been a foodie but would limit my diet due to the condition I used to have. I will be playing music at my church on the worship team, going back to being a youth pastor, getting back into business, and most importantly, being the man I know God destined me to be for my future wife, Nicollette.”
While Patricia Desouza’s recovery was swift and painless, her son’s recuperation continues in the months since their surgeries. They remained in Philadelphia for about two weeks for his post-operative appointments before returning home to Northeast Pennsylvania.
“Everything went well and everything was successful,” she says. “My kidney is working amazing in (the person) who received it and Kenny is doing great with the kidney that he received. We are so happy and grateful to have amazing people surrounding us in this blessed time in our lives. … God is good!”
Despite being an active and energetic person, even with his condition, her son quickly realized the importance of listening to his body.
“I needed to learn to take it easy and go at my body’s pace, not my mind’s pace,” he says. “All I need to do now is just get blood work weekly and see the doctor monthly — and take my medication on time to live a normally healthy, full life.”
There were times over the years when this seemed a distant dream.
After an appointment with Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, the president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, he finally received a correct diagnosis, a comprehensive treatment plan, and a renewed sense of hope, his mother says.
He added his name to the United Network for Organ Sharing(UNOS) national transplant waiting list on March 8, joining nearly 104,000 people, including about 7,000 Pennsylvanians, who need a donor. Of those, about 85%, or more than 96,000 nationwide, need a kidney, facing an average wait of three to five years, according to UNOS.
Although his mother’s kidney was a suitable match, the family of five staunchly believed that God would provide an even better one.
“And God did,” she says. “Kenny was only on the transplant list a week.”
After Patricia and Larri Desouza also became patients at The Wright Center for Community Health, her husband’s health turned around as well, amidst concerns over his declining kidney function likely linked to extended use of gout medication.
Under the care of his primary care physician, Dr. Jignesh Sheth, who also serves as chief medical and information officer for The Wright Center for Community Health, he underwent preparations for gastric bypass surgery to achieve the weight loss necessary for kidney transplant eligibility.
Successfully reducing his body mass index (BMI) through surgery, he joined the national transplant list. Despite facing numerous challenges, he eventually found a compatible donor and underwent the same life-changing procedure as his son in spring 2023 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
Freed from the constraints of his triweekly dialysis regimen, the transplant brought about a significant transformation in his life, just like his son is expected to experience.
The Desouza family is a testament to organ donation’s incredible transformative power, says Dr. Sheth.
“One person’s selfless donation gave Kenneth Desouza a renewed lease on life, showcasing the incredible impact a single donor can have,” he says. “We honor the heroes who give the gift of life, like Patricia Desouza, who selflessly donated her kidney to a stranger just hours before her son underwent his own kidney transplant surgery. We encourage everyone to consider becoming a donor. Each decision to donate not only saves lives but also instills hope, resilience, and new beginnings for countless families.”
Managing simultaneous dialysis for both her husband and son at home became daunting for Patricia Desouza.
“If I didn’t have God, I don’t know how I would have made it through,” she says.
For her son, the most challenging part has been trusting the process.
“It took a while to get everything going and my condition was getting worse and harder to manage,” he says. “I was getting frustrated. But my fiancée helped me out so much in that area and it’s because of her and family and my God that I was able to have unwavering faith and trust in the process.”
He also credits his mother’s strength, faith in God, and selfless sacrifice.
“I’m so grateful and blessed to have a mother who truly has unconditional love for her son and would do this for me,” he says. “I told my mom … once we’re healed, we’re going to be dancing on the dance floor in a couple of months (at his and Gauthier’s upcoming wedding).”
The Desouzas emphasize the critical importance of organ donation. They also offer encouragement to those awaiting a donor.
“Faith, patience, and hope are your greatest allies,” shares Kenneth Desouza. “Each day that passes brings you closer to a new beginning, a new season, a chance to renew your strength and live life the way you’re meant to. Remember, you are surrounded by the love and support of those who care about you deeply. Family, friends, coworkers, whoever it is, get a support group. Gather around strong people of faith and battery chargers, not drainers. Keep your faith in God strong and your heart resilient, for brighter days are ahead.”
How to Donate:
Despite more than 4.9 million Pennsylvanians registered as organ, eye, and tissue donors, the need still far outpaces donations. To register to donate, visit DonateLifePA.org/register, or for more information, visit DonateLifePA.org. Just one person’s decision to donate can potentially save up to eight lives and positively affect up to 75 more.
