Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Central Pa. >
  • ... >
  • Transplant >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Orlando Jaimes
Transplant
Contact Us
Our Team
Kidney Transplant
Living-Donor Kidney Transplant
Patient Stories
Resources and Forms
Transplant
Contact Us
Our Team
Kidney Transplant
Living-Donor Kidney Transplant
Patient Stories
Resources and Forms

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Orlando Jaimes: Kidney Transplant

A Life with New Beginnings

For Orlando, life is about new beginnings. Born with end stage renal disease, he died three times the day he was born and was on dialysis as a kid for nearly seven years, three times a week, where he says he spent a lot of time at home waiting for his first kidney.

In 1996, his first fresh start arrived and it was bittersweet. This was the year his grandfather died and he received his first kidney transplant. Orlando believes this timing wasn’t a coincidence and that his grandfather left this world so he could live. His new kidney served him well as he was participating in competitive Tae Kwan Do competitions across the country – living fully and having fun – until 2012 when he said that chapter ended and he was facing kidney failure.

In the best shape of his life, and also in denial, he suddenly found himself sleeping all the time. Everything changed, including his perspective on the gift of life itself. Orlando described himself as “young and dumb” when he admitted he had stopped taking his rejection pills. Now facing the consequences, he had a fistula in his arm, and a catheter in his heart, and was once again waiting for a kidney.

“Dr. Yang did my first transplant so I stuck with him. He’s like a father figure to me. I felt bad for letting him and everyone down. They care and take your life seriously. Everyone treated me so well and they are on top of their game. I will stick with them until I die.”

Becca, who is on Dr. Yang’s team, fought hard to give Orlando a second chance and was another cheerleader in his corner, along with family and friends. Orlando quit smoking and pulled it together so he could live his life to the fullest. When he received the call that he was getting that kidney after many disappointments, it was surreal. On November 18, 2018, his surgery was scheduled. It was another bittersweet moment.

“We’re waiting for my life to start while someone else is in another room waiting for their life to end. That messed me up a bit.”

Today, however, Orlando feels amazing; cherishing the life he’s been given and second chances. He’s following the rules and feels strong, now sparring and boxing without any full body contact.

“I take my rejection pills, go to my doctor’s appointments, eat healthier, work out, and avoid doing anything stupid.”

Nine months from the day of his surgery, Orlando married his “rock,” Jennifer, marking yet another new beginning in his life.

Learn more

  • Learn More About Transplant Program
  • View All Transplant Program Testimonials

Meet Orlando Jaimes' Care Team

  • Harold C. Yang, MD
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC in Central Pa.
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login