Transplant Center

Patient Testimonials

"I Survived Polycystic Kidney Disease"

In October of 2008, Carmen Munoz, a former PKD patient, received a kidney transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Since then, she has returned home to Texas, gone back to work full-time and plans to give presentations advising potential kidney transplant recipients how to find the best hospital. In addition, she plans to launch her own Web site. She recently returned to the Medical Center for her six-month check up. Read her update below.

Carmen in front of the UMMC Gift of Life Donor Wall of Honor, where her donor's name, Pam Davison, is listed.

I’m thrilled to announce it’s been six months since my kidney transplant which was performed October 8, 2008, at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). (read story here) Following surgery my husband Vincent and I remained in Baltimore for two months. We leased an apartment in Parkville, Maryland so that I would remain available for further follow ups and lab work. The apartment became our home away from home.

Before the transplant I was faced with complex challenges one being; to stay in Texas where I would have all the support I needed plus no travel expenses. But choose to travel 1200 miles by car to have the BEST medical surgeons perform my transplant. In turn, this decision placed an enormous and unimaginable responsibility on Vincent. He became my caretaker morning, noon and night. He took wonderful care of me for which I am deeply and forever grateful.

In February 2009, I returned back to work for four hours a day and now I am working full time. In wanting to recognize organ donation month, my employer aired nationwide via the intranet an article written about me and a living donor titled “IRS Employees Give and Receive the Gift of Life.” In the coming months I’ve been scheduled to give a presentation titled “Finding the Best Hospital for your Transplant, Care and Needs” for the PKD Foundation North Texas Chapter.

I am also busy pouring much of my time into setting up the layout on a Web site which was offered to me as a generous gift from a dear friend who was moved by my story. Plus recently I returned back to Texas from traveling to UMMC for my six-month check up. I’m thrilled to announce that I received great comments from the doctors and excited that my anti-rejection meds were reduced. Yeah!!!

But what I’m most thankful for are all the blessings and graces God bestowed on me throughout the entire transplant process particularly in sending me my hero, my angel, my donor Pam Davison. She’s doing great! She healed wonderfully after the surgery and since the surgery she’s moved twice, had a wedding in her family (son married) and her daughter Jennifer, who was her caretaker after the surgery in Baltimore, presented her with a beautiful granddaughter. In addition Choice Hotels International, (Pam is a guest services agent at the Quality Inn Hotel near Sea World in San Antonio) through their official publication eConnection, recently wrote an article on Pam recognizing her for her spirit of caring and courage to save a life.

Carmen Munoz and her husband Vincent

by Carmen Munoz

For more information on the any of the programs or services of the Division of Transplantation, please call 410-328-5408 or 1-800-492-5538. If you've received a transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center and would like to share your story, please e-mail us or call 410-328-7660.

This page was last updated on: May 1, 2009.

If you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services, please call 410-328-5408 or 1-800-492-5538.