“Dialysis is a pain”

He is 83 years old and has been waiting for a replacement for three years for kidneys that are failing. Age is not a barrier for him. “My nephrologist asked me why I wanted to wait for a transplant because I was going to live, nine more years?” he says. Manuel Torreiglesias, determined to wait for an organ that will make up for the more than three and a half hours he dedicates three days a week to dialysis. The legendary television journalist Know how to live He does not believe that there is a barrier regarding whether or not a transplant is suitable.

«We must start talking about elderly donors“, not only for candidates in that age group, but for everyone,” explains Mario Chico Fernández, Transplant Coordinator at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid. “In today’s society, which is increasingly aging, we must look for formulas that give health and quality to all patients,” he emphasizes. Today is the National Organ and Tissue Donor Day and it is key to “make everyone aware of the need for more donors,” says María Orejana, transplant coordinator nurse at the Madrid center.

For this reason, the hospital brings together different points of view for EL MUNDO that provide a global vision of the complex transplant process. «In recent years there have been changes that allow greater diversity in donation and that favors a greater number of recipients,” says Chico.

Sergio Cobos The 43-year-old gives thanks to whoever decided almost 14 years ago that his family member’s organs would have a new life. “I was lucky,” she says. Despite a first attempt in which the candidate kidney failed, “another second chance was given.” That is why “today I live for others, because it is a way of being grateful that I am alive.” Sergio maintains a great link with patient associations, he has managed to get the Vatican to name the Virgin of the Dove as the patron saint of transplant patients and «I have taken great care of the organ and it has helped me become a professional athlete.».

While Manuel thinks about being eligible for a transplant, his traveling companions in the ambulance that takes him from his home to the Jiménez Díaz Foundation «They don’t want to talk about it, they prefer dialysis». Cobos tells him that the intervention is not that big of a deal, downplaying its importance, and Torreiglesias replies: “If there is this possibility, why not?” And he blurts out: “Dialysis is a pain.”

Although Sergio speaks this way, his kidney took a few days to work. “It just started working on my birthday.” In addition, he also had to undergo bladder surgery. For him, however, who never received dialysis, having had the chance to receive an organ soon has done nothing but further confirm your faith and focus on “telling how good it is to donate and be transplanted. Being able to witness the effort and how health professionals give themselves throughout the transplant chain.

Chico points out that “it is true”, but remembers that “dialysis, at least, It is an option for patients waiting for a kidney., because the rest (lung, liver or heart) have limited time. “Your wait has a different ending.” In his eyes the hardness is reflected that there are others who suffer worse luck. The nurse faces this situation. She knows the situation well because before ending up in transplant coordination full-time she worked in the ICU. “Here we saw [es cuidadosa al contarlo] to people who in their state could be candidates to become donors,” says Orejana.

More information about organ donation: a challenge

Although both health professionals agree that there is greater awareness about organ donation, «There is a lot that is not told and that occurs in that moment when we talk with the family. And it is not just any moment, but a very hard one,” argues Chico. He and Orejana are part of that invisible network that “is woven to ensure that an organ reaches its recipient.”

“There is no lottery here, but a great job of adjusting the qualifications of those who donate with those who receive,” Chico emphasizes. «Lack of health education», points out Manuel, who has not lost his communicative ability and who attributes this to the «lack of resources and the commitment to informative spaces on health in the media.» He knows well what he’s talking about, who for more than a decade directed and presented Know how to livea television space that «It helped a generation of grandmothers educate their grandchildren.. We didn’t just explain things, we made them practical,” he recalls.

At that time, “while I was at the top of my career, they had to give me a stent due to a cardiovascular problem. It does not give more details, because He keeps his private life very secretive.but it has been the most serious health problem he has had until his kidneys began to fail.

That happened three years ago when SARS-CoV-2, Covid, passed through his body. “It was the small sequel that it left,” laments Torreiglesias. For many, along with Bartolomé Beltrán and Ramón Sánchez-Ocaña, he is part of the promoters of health information. «Before there were more spaces that taught you how to eat, but well. To have a healthy diet, which is one of the pillars, to the reality of the impact of exercise and also sleep,” Manuel claims.

In his speech he not only attacks the media, there is also room for the policies of the health departments and the ministry. «They only focus on the healthcare part, they do not emphasize prevention. And this is an important part if you want to avoid the disease responsible for the first one.

Torreiglesias also emphasizes that “if they transplant me, costs will be saved.” Boy nods. «The truth is that yes, there are less costs in the treatment, it also provides the patient with a higher quality of life. And if it is done in an adult [señalando a Sergio] “It is about returning a person to the labor market and being productive again.”

Furthermore, the communicator says that «Dialysis is not good at all either. I see my skin worse». And not only that, one of the side effects is fistulas, “I have already suffered four,” she points out. This occurs when blood clots in a fistula or graft prevent dialysis from being carried out, “the last time they placed a stent.” It is not “very common,” says Chico, but it must be taken into account. Torreiglesias shows a bruised arm with a lot of signs that reveal the processes and traces of dialysis.

Spain is seeking a new record in transplants and surpassing the 2,346 deceased donors in 2024 and the 435 living donors in 2023, which represent an increase of 7% and 24% compared to the previous year. Chico and Orejana place emphasis on the work carried out in the health system so that the positive numbers that place our country as a model in transplants are more than that. «In the end it is a job of the public health systemcomplex [lo dice mientras reconoce que vive junto a un busca desde hace unos años]but with effort and coordination he is able to move forward,” emphasizes Chico.

The transplant coordinator does not believe in magic bullets “because there are none here”, but he does believe in training and highlighting the hard efforts of professionals. Perhaps, although there is some skepticism in Manuel, he also trusts that his kidney will arrive.