Born in Guatemala, Adan Orozco was just 6 years old when he was diagnosed with hereditary familial nephritis. The condition is not curable and without proper treatment, can lead to kidney failure.
“Knowing this, my parents wanted me to have the best health care, so we moved to Lancaster in 1991,” says Adan.
In Lancaster, Adan regularly saw a pediatric nephrologist to monitor his kidneys. Despite these efforts, his kidney function continued to slowly decline over the next several years. He was 14 when Harold C. Yang, MD, PhD, an experienced surgeon in Hershey, Pa. (now with UPMC Harrisburg), performed Adan’s first transplant. Just as the family had planned, Adan’s father was his donor.
After high school, Adan enrolled in college with plans to someday teach. But he left before graduating to take a job with a financial services firm. By then, Adan and Kendy Parra — who’s been his partner for the past 21 years — were the parents of three children (now ages 18, 12, and 11). The family lived a full and busy life. Adan enjoyed his job, but it was demanding and required long hours.
“I wanted to spend more time with my family and needed to make a change,” he says.
He returned to college, earned this teaching certificate, and began teaching mathematics at Manheim Township High School in 2019.
“Teaching was always my passion,” says Adan.
When Adan’s kidneys again began to fail in spring 2021, he and Kendy chose UPMC Harrisburg Transplant Services for his second surgery. For Adan, who loves data, UPMC Harrisburg’s kidney transplant high success rate was very reassuring. Kendy was a match — and though she’d never had surgery before, was calm and focused.
“The UPMC Harrisburg team prepared me well,” she says. “I knew what to expect, and I was ready to get this done!”
On July 29, 2022, Dr. Yang performed Adan’s second transplant at UPMC Harrisburg.
“It was just a miracle that he was there,” says Adan. “I think this was meant to be.”
Adan and Kendy say their entire UPMC transplant experience “was great.”
“Rebecca Brown and her team were on top of everything. They adjusted lab work and tests around our schedules and made everything go smoothly,” says Kendy. “They are just an outstanding group,” adds Adan.
Adan and Kendy’s treatment and results may not be representative of other cases.
