South Florida native receives life-saving kidney transplant from sister

By: Krysten Brenlla

Traveling, exploring new places, and exercising are some of Marco David Palacios’ favorite pastimes.

However, in 2016, the 35-year-old had to place those passions on hold. His kidneys were failing.

“My doctors told me I had about 10 years with my current kidney function, but eventually, I would need a transplant,” Palacios said. “I made it seven years before my kidneys gave out.”

In 2023, Palacios and his nephrologist decided it was time to go on dialysis.

“I started off on dialysis for five days a week, five hours a day. I was working fully remote then, so I would just go to my office, get everything set up for dialysis, and I stayed tied to my desk,” he said. “It was convenient – I would just walk around at home with this tube hanging out.”

Despite the dialysis treatment, Palacios’ kidneys and body continued to decline. His legs began to swell, and he needed dialysis seven days a week for eight hours a day.

Soon, his nephrologist told him he should consider a transplant, leading Palacios to the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System.

Once at MTI, Palacios discovered the living kidney donor program, which allows for some organs, like kidneys, to be donated by a living donor without negatively affecting the donor’s health. He immediately shared the details on the program with his family.

“Living kidney donation allows for the most successful, immediate transplant outcomes,” said Mariella Ortigosa-Goggins, MD, director of MTI’s living kidney donor program. “Our goal as the largest living donor program in Florida is to provide safe, efficient transplants that change lives for both the donor and recipient.”

When Palacios’ sister, Jessica Lopez, found out that she could potentially be his match, she immediately signed up.

“I didn’t want her to be my donor – I didn’t want anything to happen to her,” he said. “But my sister is very stubborn, and ever since she heard my kidneys were on their way out, she was prepared for it. When they asked her if she was mentally prepared to be a donor and live her life with one kidney, she said, ‘I can live without one kidney, but I’d have a much tougher time living without my brother.’”

As fate would have it, Lopez was a perfect match. After months of tests and preparation, the siblings were ready for the transplant.

On November 7, 2023, a multidisciplinary team, led by Rodrigo Vianna, MD, PhD, MTI’s director of transplant services and chief of liver, intestinal, and multivisceral transplant, used robotic surgery to remove the kidney from Lopez, allowing her to recover in half the expected time, with much less pain.

In another operating room, Mahmoud Morsi, MD, CPHQ, an abdominal organ transplant surgeon, and MTI’s abdominal organ transplant surgery fellowship director, transplanted Palacios.

Both surgeries were successful, and after spending a few days at Jackson Memorial Hospital recovering, the siblings were discharged.

“Not too long after surgery, I was moving more and walking regularly,” Palacios said. “I soon started working out again. I didn’t want to set myself backwards – I wanted to keep moving forward. My transplant has made a huge difference in my life.”

Today, he feels better than ever. He went back to his running group in Palm Beach, is traveling often, and is enjoying the outdoors, with no issues.

Palacios credits his newfound health to not only the teams at Jackson and MTI, but his sister for giving him a second chance at life.

“I wouldn’t be here without them,” he said. “Life is full of the unexpected. I’m grateful to just be alive and to be able to experience life again. I hope I can help someone else with my experience.”