Mexico resident Daniel Leonatti was the recent recipient of a kidney transplant.

For those who don't know Daniel has been diagnosed with Lupus since 2006. Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems-- including kidneys.

Daniel has been in need of a kidney transplant for about 18 months. The night after Thanksgiving on Nov. 26th Daniel was sound asleep when his phone rang.

"I didn't take the call. I thought who could be calling at 11 p.m.?", said Daniel. It was Barnes Hospital.

"Thank goodness they had my mom's (Alice Leonatti) contact information and they called her. She rushed over to my house and shook me awake and said, Daniel they have found a match. We were in complete shock. We packed our bags and got on the road after midnight. It was pouring down rain, however the great thing was there wasn't much traffic on the road. We checked in at Barnes at 2:30 a.m. and by 10 a.m. I was on the operating table. After that I was recovering and watching the Kansas City Chiefs game." For Daniel this was not his first kidney transplant. He found out he had end stage renal disease in 2016. A childhood friend who wishes to remain anonymous was a match and a surgery for new kidney took place in April 2017. He had an adverse reaction to a second COVID shot and lost his first kidney.

"If I had it to do all over again, I would still take that chance. With my weakened immune system, if I got COVID, we probably would not be having this conversation." Daniel had to get back on a waiting list for another kidney. After struggling with health issues he was finally approved to go on a list on Nov. 1st, 2022 and was able to get his new kidney by the end of the month. Daniel was discharged from the Barnes on his birthday Dec. 2.

"Best birthday present ever. I am staying with mom and dad (Lou and Alice Leonatti) for now due to several restrictions. I can't drive, or lift. Feeling much better now and have been taking walks around the neighborhood. I got this kidney due to the donor being deceased. Don't know if it is a man or woman due to HIPPA. I grieve for the donor's family and still pray for them. Going to write them a letter thanking them and the transplant center will send it to them. Would love to meet them in person one day."

Daniel and his family were helped by the Mid-America Transplant located in St. Louis. When an individual passes away, the death is reported to the local organ procurement organization. Mid-America Transplant receives about 33,000 referrals a year from across their service area, which includes 84 counties and 120 hospital partners.

Anyone wishing to become an organ donor in Missouri, can register your decision online in the Donate Life Missouri Registry. Complete and mail in a paper registration form available at https://donatelifemissouri.org/other/forms/. You may also call toll-free at 888-497-4564 to obtain a copy of the form. Sign and carry a donor card (https://health.mo.gov/living/organdonor/cards.php) or other signed record.