Eugenio 'Mr.O' Wilson
Dear Kidney Donor Family,
My name is Eugenio ‘Mr.O’ Wilson, the recipient of the kidney that was provided by Tulane Kidney Transplant facility during August 10, 2023. I actually had surgery on August 11th and am currently recovering and doing well. I have much to say and I feel ‘thank you’ just isn’t enough or the words cannot fully express how I truly feel. Yet, I will try my best for your family. I never expected to receive a kidney or get that unexpected call from the Tulane Medical Facility that Thursday night.
Before 2019, I was a vibrant and energetic art teacher serving a couple of elementary schools in the metro New Orleans area, a Microsoft store, Educator, Inc, and Boys and Girls Clubs. I enjoy teaching visual arts to the youth so much that I was encouraged by a parent to start my own art business teaching students on certain days of the week. I never envisioned becoming a teacher and truly cannot see myself doing anything less.
On March 25, 2019, I suffered a major stroke which led to stage 5 kidney failure/disease. Doctors couldn’t tell if I would walk again, see good again, or regain my motor skills. Many of them said it was up to me. So for three years, I did physical therapy. I worked out at home, and met all of my appointments. Soon, I was able to walk again, see better, and improved my motor skills. Dialysis would be required on a weekly basis to provide the necessary kidney functions that I lost from the disease and for 4.5 years I endured with no complaints.
“It is my daily routine,” I would say going to Dialysis during the week. With the addition of the stroke symptoms, I struggled greatly from each treatment and would require hours of rest afterwards. On occasions, the treatments would cause dangerous low blood pressure which required several trips to the emergency room and some in-hospital stays.
On occasion, I would suffer from UTI, urinary tract infection, which was so severe that it developed into sepsis which required a week stay in the hospital. Still, despite all of this, I wanted to teach, or continue some routine that I had previously, but quickly learned that my inconsistent health wasn’t good for the students. I wanted to be there in my mind, and the body just couldn’t keep up.
Yet, I wasn’t disappointed, angry, or frustrated. I simply took each day at a time. I would visit my doctors, therapists, and hear that I could receive a kidney. I found that possibility a long shot after reading how difficult it was to get one. Over the years, I observed dialysis patients who have been on the transplant list for 8, 10, 15, or more years without a kidney. After a while, I felt that would be me, so I decided to not sit around and wait for a kidney and try to get back into teaching the youth.
In 2022, I decided to push pass my disability and created a nonprofit organization teaching youth K-12 in metro New Orleans area visual arts and technology. I refused to allow this diagnosis to stop me from serving the community. My organization is small, and I decided to take a year away from the operations to focus on my health because I do not want to impose anymore inconsistencies on the parents or students.
Then the impossible happened on August 10, 2023, at 9:44pm. I received a call from a physician about a kidney that was available for me. I was half asleep and almost didn’t answer because it was late and a 1-800 number. The physician introduced herself and stated that a kidney is available, and I must accept the conditions of the kidney. I said ‘Yes’ to every question despite the fact I was in complete shock over this call.
I was surprised and immediately contacted my surrogate mother and told her the news and later my dad. During the excitement, my attention went to the donor because of the sacrifice that was given. I didn’t know him, but my thoughts were with him and his family. Because of him, I can write this letter to his family. Rest assured that his kidney now exists within me, making him a part of me for the remainder of my life. His efforts will extend my life and allow me to have another promising opportunity to continue teaching the youth in the community.
I think of him often because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. Each day is a new experience for me because I simply didn’t expect this gift to come to me. Now that I have this wonderful gift of life from your family member, its my duty to continue my path as a teacher, founder, and advocate for stroke/kidney awareness. This is all possible by the kidney donor and I am supremely grateful.
My life has been full of various journeys and this kidney/stroke experience is one of them. I learned a lot about my true character during each journey and it adds to my life. In 2000, I lost my mother to cancer, and my grieving process lasted for 12 years. I was a shell of myself and wanted something to change. It did when I decided to leave a stressful job to give my services and time to the youth through the arts.
Sure, it has taken a while to get to this point of teaching. Now, with this new kidney, that is functioning well within me, can allow me to return to my path. I am experiencing new/old things with this kidney as I can feel my strength and energy levels returning and that is because of the donor’s effort.
Please accept my humble thanks and appreciation for placing this kidney up for a recipient. I am so grateful and simply want to let you all know that I shall add life to it. My students thank you. My family thanks you. Most of all, I thank you from the depths of my heart and soul.
Thank you from Mr.O