Giuseppina Coco -- Italy

Age: 58

Transplant: Kidney, 1974

Hometown: Milan, Italy

Events:

Giuseppina's Story: When I was 23 years old, a doctor diagnosed me with "nephritis proliferated" after I had an abortion. Afterwards, I became pregnant again, and this time had a spontaneous abortion. This was a result of my nephritis, and I had to continue with medical care for eight years at the hospital, taking many different medicines.

In the meantime, my husband, because he knew the difficulties of pregnancies and that I was to be subject to dialysis, he left me, leaving me with no moral support from his side. Then, in 1974, I was called for a kidney transplant. I knew little about transplants, but I had to decide immediately.

After the transplant, I began to work full time again, and now, after 23 years, I'm feeling very well and enjoy my life participating in different sports, including swimming (freestyle and breaststroke), bowling, dancing (rock and tango), ball throw, and more.

My Message to the World: We must have confidence and pluck up courage because transplant means "to enjoy life again moment for moment." I hope my story can encourage all people to be donors.

 

Last modified: 11 May 2000