Kidneys may fail; friends don't

For four years, Alex Garcia has known his kidneys were failing.
For the last four months, Garcia’s “part-time job” has been undergoing dialysis three times a week. He has been a master mechanic at the Physical Plant Department for 11 years.

While the disease slowly began to consume every aspect of his life, he witnessed a flow of assistance from friends and family who have organized fundraisers generating thousands of dollars to help him pay his medical costs.

Anthony Garcia, one of Alex’s friends and colleagues at the PPD, has organized upcoming events to benefit Alex, including a barbecue at UNM on Sept. 2 and a dance at a later date.

But the biggest contribution comes from Gary Small, another PPD mechanic, who is giving one of his kidneys to Alex Garcia.
Alex Garcia said family members were first to jump in the donation line, but one by one problems were discovered with each person, and none were eligible donors.

“Then this guy slips in through the back door, nonchalant, anonymous, and puts his name on the list,” Alex Garcia said. “He’s a remarkable man, a heart as big as Texas.”

Small, who worked with Alex Garcia for 10 years, only asked for one thing — for the procedure to be scheduled on Sept. 22, his birthday.
“I thought it would be a nice thing to give something,” Small said. “I thought about it and I said, ‘You know, this guy’s got a family. If I can help him, why not?’”

In truth, there’s been no shortage of support for Alex Garica. PPD has generated more than $3,000 to help him cover his medical costs.
Anthony Garcia put together a yard sale and set up a number for people to call and make donations. PPD also organized an event at an Applebee’s, where customers could request to donate 15 percent of their purchase to Alex Garcia.

“We became really good friends,” Anthony Garcia said. “We found out October last year his kidneys were starting to fail … It was pretty devastating.”

Since Alex Garcia was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disorder that leads to renal failure, and then began dialysis, he has had to make some changes to his life.

Where he used to play volleyball, now he can only fish, and he can no longer do the work his job requires.
Through it all, though, Alex Garcia has no complaints.

“People come from far and near, and it’s been a blessing,” he said. “With that many family members and a co-worker to come forth — I ain’t that bad of a guy after all.”

After the transplant, Alex Garcia said he hopes to get his life back to normal.
“I don’t know if I can work back at the utility plant anymore, but I will seek employment,” he said. “And I’m going start diligently working on my bucket list.”