“This is not my story. This is our story. It’s not only about me but my family, too. They helped me get where I am today. Because of the person who donated their organ, I get to live a healthier life, and I get to bring life to this earth.” In 2013, Priya received her gift of a new kidney from an anonymous donor after spending the previous seven years on hemodialysis. Her condition started young, having her first surgery at 12 years old and her second a few years later to remove one of her damaged kidneys. When she was 21 years old, her condition worsened, and she was added to the kidney transplant waiting list. She was also diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was added to the transplant list for her heart.
The kidney transplant she received in 2013 changed everything. “I never had so much energy before. I’m perfect. I never felt so healthy, because I’ve always been sick, always been having pain.” Priya was finally able to pursue her dream of acting and modeling, and six years after her transplant, she gave birth to her son, Austin, with her husband, Sanjay. To treat the congestive heart failure, doctors implanted a defibrillator and pacemaker, which has helped stabilize her heart enough to take her off the transplant list, and Priya said that her heart condition improved after the transplant. Today, Priya lives a healthy life and volunteers with New England Donor Services to help spread the message of registering as a donor.