Christine Hernandez, a registered nurse and mother of four from Chicago, has been fighting for her life while waiting for a kidney transplant—an effort that was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Diagnosed with a rare kidney disease in 2016 and later with breast cancer in 2018, Christine was placed on the transplant list in 2019. Initially, over 100 individuals registered to be potential living kidney donors, but when the pandemic shut down much of the world, many of those prospects backed out, delaying her chance for a life-saving transplant.
Now living with end-stage renal disease, Christine undergoes dialysis three times a week, with each session lasting between three and four hours. Despite her physical and emotional exhaustion, she continues to hold onto hope. She admits there have been moments she wanted to give up, but her family continues to encourage her to keep fighting, believing that a miracle is still possible.
Christine’s case is made more complex by the presence of antibodies that make it harder to find a compatible donor. Her doctor remains hopeful, explaining that if the right donor steps forward, the medical team can manipulate her immune system to perform the transplant safely. He emphasized the importance of generosity from potential donors and the real chance to make a difference in someone’s life.
Christine continues to choose faith over fear, firmly believing that her match is still out there. She urges others to consider registering as donors, not just for her, but for the many others waiting. According to Donate Life America, 90,000 people in the U.S. are currently waiting for a kidney, with another person added to the list every eight minutes. For Christine, the search continues—with hope, courage, and the belief that her miracle will come.
