A Kidney for Saul

02/03/2026

While dialysis is a life saving treatment for end-stage renal failure, it is not a cure or permanent solution.

Saul’s temporary catheter in his chest has started to have complications and is not working as it should. This morning he is back at this step to have it replaced.

The timing is unfortunate as he was finally cleared to be seen and move forward on either a fistula for continued hemodialysis or see if peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an option again — either would allow the chest catheter to be removed. He will now have the replacement done, then be back again to do one of the above. While these may not be considered highly invasive surgeries, the constant back-and-forth takes a real toll on the body, especially on top of lupus and the fatigue and exhaustion that come with dialysis.

A donor is Saul’s best option — his best hope for a healthier, more stable future.

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

01/26/2026

I hope everyone has been staying warm and safe. This weather has made it difficult for me to make it in clinic to receive dialysis treatment, something I one day hope not to be concerned about on top of what’s going on around me. Please share & help me find a donor! 🙏💚

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

Other options are kidney exchange programs — donate and “trade” for a match. Please reach out anytime with questions or for more info.

Right now, nearly 90,000 people across the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant and kidneys make up 87% of all organ transplant needs.

The average wait time is 3-5 years, but in states like Texas with large populations and high kidney disease rates, many patients wait even longer.

There's good news: Donate Life America has launched a new national pilot program with the National Kidney Registry to make living kidney donation easier and more accessible than ever before.

This trusted pathway offers:
✅ Easy access to information about becoming a living donor
✅ Direct connection to transplant programs
✅ Mentor support throughout the entire donation journey

Living kidney donation can dramatically reduce wait times and save lives and now there's a clear, supported path to make it happen.

Want to learn more about this lifesaving program?
👉 Visit donatelifetexas.org/about-living-donation/ to explore how you can make a difference.

01/07/2026

Please share & help me find a donor! 🙏💚

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

Other options are kidney exchange programs — donate and “trade” for a match. Please reach out anytime with questions or for more info.

12/24/2025

I ended up back in the hospital Monday afternoon for concerns with my surgical site and was admitted. Thankfully, I was well enough to come home around midnight lastnight/this morning in time to spend Christmas with my family.

At 2am I received a call for a possible donor. Unfortunately, it didn’t end up being a match. It’s not easy but I’m still grateful for the hope and for someone thinking of me. Thank you for sharing and for all the thoughts and prayers.

I might not have a Christmas miracle, but maybe I’ll be able to say “new year, new kidney!”

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

Other options are kidney exchange programs — donate and “trade” for a match. Please reach out anytime with questions or for more info.

Happy Holidays 💚

12/21/2025

I’d much rather be home with my family right now but another day on this machine for hours doing hemodialysis. This is my life until I hopefully find a kidney.

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

12/14/2025

Saul was stable enough to come home from the hospital late last night. 🙏 He will be receiving his treatment and long term antibiotics now through hemodialysis.

The past couple of weeks have truly been rough. It would be ideal if the next time he were in a hospital not be til transplant day, though unlikely, we can only hope. The search for a kidney continues! 💚

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

12/10/2025

Saul went into surgery this morning. All went as planned and he is resting now. We appreciate everyone who has reached out to check on him and are keeping him in their thoughts and prayers.

Since sharing, there have been people who completed the donor screening to be tested - some friends, some strangers. THANK YOU to anyone who has been willing to try, to give Saul more life, a healthier life, a better life. Testing can take several weeks, and we do not hear anything until there is an approved donor. We are truly hopeful a match will come out of all this. 🙏💚

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now
*When you get to the Donation Details
· Select 'I have a specific person that I want to help by donating.'
· Recipient's Name: Saul Gutierrez
· Select Yes for 'Is your recipient currently at our transplant center?'

12/07/2025

Update: Saul was hospitalized this weekend after going to the ER Saturday morning with persistent pain and symptoms from the peritonitis infection. He is currently receiving care and on continuous IV antibiotics until there is improvement/progress treating the infection. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We hope he will be homebound soon. 🙏

Dialysis is an exhausting life adjustment with its own risks, and it is only a temporary bandaid, not a cure or solution to kidney failure. If you have any interest or questions on becoming a living donor, please do not hesitate to reach out!

To complete the donor screening visit:
https://namc.donorscreen.org/register/now

11/30/2025

Today Saul was seen for an infection of peritonitis. He is currently being treated with antibiotics and we are hoping for a speedy recovery. This infection is unfortunately a common risk when on peritoneal dialysis. Already having a weakened immune system, fighting off this infection is no easy battle. It makes us all the more desperate to find a living donor for Saul, for his time on dialysis to be as minimal as possible, and to be that much closer to having healthy kidney function.

Please share, reach out for additional information, and help us find him a kidney!

11/30/2025

We have created this page to provide updates on Saul's journey - on dialysis and searching for a donor.