In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is highlighting the critical need for more Latino organ donors in California. By sharing the story of a mother who honored her daughter’s life through organ donation, Sierra Donor Services hopes to inspire more Hispanic families to learn about the life-saving impact of donation.

Nearly 20,000 Californians are waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

*49% of those waiting are Hispanic or Latino.

Maggie Núñez: An Angel Living on Through Others

Lodi, California, resident Claudia Núñez is a single mother, caregiver, and Sierra Donor Services Hispanic Ambassador who maintains a busy schedule while finding time to give back to her community. Her compassion and selflessness were especially evident when she decided to donate her daughter’s organs, giving two people the gift of life.

In 2014, Núñez welcomed her daughter Maggie, a healthy baby girl. At eight months, Maggie developed an illness that brought significant health challenges and changed the course of her life. Doctors told Claudia that her child wouldn’t live past the age of one. But Maggie defied the odds and turned ten.

Following Maggie’s death, Núñez decided to donate her daughter’s organs. Maggie’s gifts saved the lives of two people: a Sacramento resident who had been waiting 15 years for a kidney transplant and a Pennsylvania resident whose life was saved through a kidney and liver transplant.

With Maggie’s gifts, came a legacy of hope.

“Maggie taught my family what compassion is, and she also taught us that we must always keep fighting and never give up,” said Núñez. “That is why, on the day we had to decide her fate, the choice to donate her organs was not difficult. Maggie gave two people a second chance at life. Her passing will always hurt but knowing that she continues living on in other lives brings me a deep sense of peace.”

“We hope that learning about Claudia’s story and her daughter Maggie empowers more Latinos to help our community, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Cristian Morales, Sr. External Affairs Coordinator at Sierra Donor Services. “Our Hispanic community has the power to save up to eight lives by becoming registered organ donors.”

SDS works tirelessly to facilitate the donation of organs, corneas, and tissue, ensuring every gift is treated with the highest level of care and respect. As SDS reflects on the dire need for lifesaving transplants in the Hispanic community, the organization remains committed to its mission of saving and improving more Latino lives, honoring donors, celebrating recipients, and educating the public.

We are calling all Latinos to become organ, eye and tissue donors by saying ‘yes’ today!