Jesus Navarro Will Attain Life-Saving Kidney Surgery

How We Won

Feb 10, 2012

Victory! University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has agreed to help Jesus Navarro develop a plan for long-term care needed to receive a life-saving kidney transplant, following a national outpouring of support that included more than 130,000 signatures on Jesus' viral petition -- as well as coverage on CNN, ABC, NBC, and more.

Donald Kagan launched the campaign after Jesus, an Oakland father, was reportedly denied the transplant, despite having private health insurance and having spent six years on a waiting list. Donald had received a life-saving organ donation from a Nicaraguan immigrant, and he felt compelled to do something to save Jesus' life.

“Immigration status should never be used to determine eligibility for life-saving surgery,” Donald argued.

Yesterday, the hospital released a joint statement with Jesus that reiterates this very principle and states that their original communication may not have been clear enough: “UCSF regrets the misunderstanding and is committed to reviewing its processes to make sure that communication is consistent and clear with all patients, including Mr. Navarro. UCSF does not and will not discriminate on the basis of immigration status.”

Donald was incredibly relieved to hear that UCSF had agreed to work with Jesus to help him secure the long-term care needed to receive a kidney transplant and survive to see his daughter grow up. He stated, “As a kidney transplant recipient myself, I understand what his family have been suffering through. A sincere thank you to the hundreds of thousands of people who joined the campaign to support Jesus -- you all are unbelievable.”

More at http://bit.ly/wyEbPl.">http://bit.ly/wyEbPl.

Please join me in signing this urgent petition. Without a kidney transplant, an Oakland father named Jesus Navarro will die.

I was once in need of a transplant, but thankfully I was able to receive a kidney from a Nicaraguan friend of mine. UCSF never asked me if I was a legal resident.

Now, Jesus Navarro, a dedicated, hard-working family man who has health insurance needs this life-saving procedure. He even waited for 6 years to come to the top of the list for recepients. His wife wishes to donate her kidney to him.

UCSF hospital has told Jesus that the only reason he would not be able to get a transplant is becuase of his immigration status. As I see it, this is a matter of life and death.

Jesus has received hundreds of messages of support stating that he should be allowed to receive a transplant. Immigration status should not determine someone's fate.

Sign the petition to convince the UCSF Kidney Transplant Clinic to do the right thing and let Jesus receive this life-saving transplant. Thank you.

P.S. You can read more on Jesus' story:

Jesus Navarro has a donor match in his wife and private insurance to pay for a kidney transplant. But UC San Francisco Medical Center refuses to perform the operation because administrators cannot be sure he will be able to afford follow-up care given his status as an illegal immigrant.

This man does not deserve to die.

Why People Are Signing

Recent Signatures