LEMOORE, Calif. — A Lemoore family is confronting a heartbreaking reality together.
Just one year apart, a mother and her son-in-law were both diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure.
Charlotte Bass, 60, and her 36-year-old son-in-law, Matt Garcia, share the same urgent challenge.
They both have “O” blood type, meaning they can only receive kidneys from O-type donors.
Lemoore family faces unimaginable fight: Mother and son-in-law both need kidney transplant.
While O is the most common blood type, it is also one of the hardest to match for kidney transplants.
Experts say patients with this blood type face the longest wait times compared to others.
With no compatible family members, Bass and Garcia’s survival depends on the generosity of a stranger willing to donate a kidney.
In a heartfelt moment caught on camera, Bass and Garcia shared words of gratitude that carry a deeper meaning than ever.
Matt Garcia told his mother-in-law, “Thank you so much.”
She responded, “I couldn’t do it without you.”
For this family, those words are more than gratitude, they are hope.
Bass, who was diagnosed last February with polycystic kidney disease, has been trying to manage her condition through diet and exercise, but now faces stage-five kidney failure.
“All we could do is post, post, post on social media, but they only go so far. We all have the same friends,” said Bass.
She has even put a sign on her Jeep to spread the word wherever she goes, hoping someone, somewhere, might be the donor they desperately need.
Garcia’s diagnosis came in September 2024, linked to high blood pressure and genetics.
He has been on dialysis since.
“I was hospitalized for 7 days after work one day and ran a bunch of tests, and I ended up being diagnosed with end-stage renal failure, “said Garcia.
The wait for a kidney is long.
Garcia could face 8 to12 years, while Bass could wait even longer.
But if a match is found, their lives could change in an instant.
Garcia said:
It would be a miracle. It would be a game-changer for the whole family for us and a life-changer for sure. I’m only 36 years old. My kids are still young. I feel like there’s still a lot of life left to live.
Bass, who is active and loves traveling, quilting, sewing, and even driving a tractor, wants to live life to the fullest with her five children and 12 grandchildren.
It would let me live my life more, you know fulfilled, to the fullest.
Despite the challenges, the family remains hopeful, holding onto faith and a lot of prayer.
The family says if you are interested in becoming a donor or worried about the cost, it won’t cost you a thing.
Their insurance covers it.
In addition, Garcia’s wife, Tiffany, has been selected by the Visalia-based nonprofit, Helping One Woman, for a charity benefit dinner on January 20th.
The organization honors women who have faced significant hardships by hosting a dinner in their name and rallying the community for support.
Tickets are $25, and funds raised will help ease the family’s financial burden.
Background info:
Kidney disease affects tens of thousands of people each year.
According to the president and CEO of Donor Network West Dr. Janice Whaley:
“In the United States today, there are over 100,000 people waiting on kidney transplants alone. Overall, there’s 120,000 people waiting for any type of organ. A little bit more than 55% of the people that are waiting, are waiting on kidney transplants. It’s the most common organ that is needed for transplantation.”
She explains that the need is great and points out that it’s very important for people to sign up as organ donors because that’s the only way to get people off the list.
To learn more about donation or how to register to be an organ donor, visit www.donornetworkwest.org.
For more information about the journey of Bass, click here.
For more details about the HOW Visalia Dinner, click here.
