TAMPA, Fla. — As Tampa's Hispanic population continues to grow, Tampa General Hospital is bringing more education to its Hispanic Kidney Transplant Program.

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa General Hospital started its Hispanic Kidney Transplant Program in 2021

  • Reports show Latin Americans are 1.3 times more likely than other races to have kidney failure, but less likely to receive a kidney transplant

  • Marlen Cabrera received a kidney transplant through the program and wants to encourage more Latinos to participate

The hospital says studies show that patients who are Hispanic have less access to a kidney donor.

Marlen Cabrera, a Cuba native, has received a transplant through the program. 

“Sometimes I have to make different meals for each because they like different things, it’s four of them," Cabrera said as she cooked for her grandchildren. "But I am happy to do so.”

Happy now, because four years ago that wasn’t the case.

Four years ago, she needed a kidney transplant after suffering with debilitating symptoms.

“It would be time to go to bed, and I would have a towel at my bedside because I couldn’t keep food down," Cabrera said.

She received her transplant in 2022 at Tampa General Hospital, with the help of the Hispanic Kidney Transplant Program.

Although it was successful, her daughter, Eylen Garcia, said it was difficult to process.

That’s because, Eylen said, “A lot of Hispanics are afraid because we compare what health care is in our countries and we have fear because everything fails.”

Reports by the National Kidney Foundation show Latin Americans are 1.3 times more likely than other races to have kidney failure, but less likely to receive a kidney transplant.

In addition, although the Hispanic population is among the groups that most need transplants, medical professionals said they are often among the most reluctant to register to become donors.

Since the program’s inception, Tampa General Hospital has seen double the number of Hispanic patients seeking assistance from its Hispanic kidney transplant program. TGT is working to break down barriers to get more Hispanics through its doors.

Dr. Christian Bolanos, a transplant nephrologist with TGH, shared some of those barriers for Hispanic families to participate.

“Family is a very important part of our culture, so sometimes parents are afraid of accepting kidneys from their daughters and their sons," Bolanos said. "So with this program, we try to communicate better with our patients, teach them about kidney donations, kidney transplants.”

In 2021, the program performed 13 kidney transplants and last year that number increased to 67.

Through the program, TGH makes sure all providers speak Spanish, and it hosts sessions once a month to educate the community about the benefits of organ donation. It is also working to increase the number of living donation transplants within the hospital.

Cabrera said the transplant has had a positive impact on her life and has played a role in helping her stay active.

"It also taught me what to eat and how to choose what is best for me and just how to live a better life," she said.