Amarillo Donor’s Quick Lube Decision Leads To Life-Saving kidney transplant
USA: An Amarillo woman, Casey Alvarado, transformed an ordinary errand into a lifesaving kidney transplant after volunteering to be tested while getting an oil change in Pampa, Texas. A friend asked her to proofread a Facebook appeal for a person in need; midway through, Alvarado realized she was O-positive and asked how to get screened. Six months after that chance encounter at a Quick Lube, she underwent surgery to donate a kidney. The story unfolded against a stark national backdrop: nearly 90,000 people in the United States wait for a kidney transplant, and about 11 die each day while waiting.
The recipient in Alvarado’s case was a father named Michael, who had been reliant on dialysis. The transplant gave Michael and his family a renewed prospect of a full, healthy life unconnected to a dialysis machine. Alvarado describes the act of donating as helping another family continue, and she considers being part of Michael’s recovery a meaningful contribution to his journey toward wellness.
Alvarado’s own life changed markedly after donating. She enrolled in nursing school and became active as a kidney donor advocate, using athletic events to raise awareness about organ donation. She competed in the 2024 Transplant Games of America as one of the donor-athletes and earned a silver medal in cycling. She also participated in endurance rides, including a Grand Canyon crossing to promote what former donors and recipients can achieve. Physically, she reports being healthier overall as a result of her advocacy and active lifestyle.
Now a vocal promoter of donation in her community, Alvarado hopes her experience spurs others to consider living donation. Her account underscores the tangible human impact one person can have on another’s survival and quality of life, and it highlights the continuing need for donors amid a large national waiting list for kidney transplants.
