BOURBON – Leo Lopez and Terry Pavasco were complete strangers when they met at a Christian men’s retreat. However, their journey led Pavasco to donate his kidney to Lopez, and they now call each other brother. Lopez, 51, Bourbon, formerly of Warsaw, worked at Petro’s GM in sales from 2002 to 2010 and Lake City Bank, Warsaw, in the collections department from 2000 to 2002. Lopez said in 2009 he began getting sick, had congestive heart failure and was having problems with retaining too much water. He had blood work done at the end of 2009 because his blood level was high. In 2010, his ankles were swollen and his body was retaining too much water. His hemoglobin levels, the molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen, dropped low and he had to have a blood transfusion. In September 2011, he stopped working at Petro’s GM due to his medical issues. He had a biopsy done on his kidney, and he was told his kidneys were failing. He went on kidney dialysis in 2011. Lopez met Pavasco, 41, Osceola, at a Marked Men For Christ Retreat at Camp Mack, Milford, in September 2015. “I prayed every day before the retreat that there would be someone who could donate their kidney and (that God would) lay it on someone’s heart at the retreat to help me,” Lopez said. Lopez was on a kidney transplant list from 2011 to 2016 at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. Lopez and Pavasco were put in the same cabin, “the snoring cabin,” and Lopez explained he was on kidney dialysis. “Leo mentioned he was O-positive blood type and I told him that was a coincidence because I am, too,” Pavasco said. They exchanged phone numbers and Pavasco said he was thinking and praying about donating a kidney. There was a second phase of the Marked Men For Christ retreat in October they both attended. “I asked him if he got his blood work done and he had not yet,” Lopez said. Lopez said his wife, Julie, and other friends’ kidneys had been tested, but they were not matches. “Life happened and I got really busy, but I promised him the next week I would get tested, and I was the right match and decided I would donate my left kidney to Leo,” Pavasco said. “If it were left to my decision, organ donation was never on my radar, but then I met Leo and God put it on my heart to donate my kidney.” The kidney transplant surgery was Feb. 16 at Lutheran Hospital. Lopez and Pavasco were given MudLOVE bracelets that read “faith” that were given to them when they were in the hospital by Lopez’s friend, Martha Saull. They have not taken them off their wrists since the surgery. “The surgery was done in record time, about three hours,” Lopez said. Pavasco was discharged after two days, and Lopez went home after three days. “When I woke up from surgery I felt better instantly and have not had hardly any pain at all,” Lopez said. Recovery was more of a challenge for Pavasco. “The first couple of weeks of recovery was painful for me. My abdominal muscles hurt and it hurt to cough, laugh and sneeze,” Pavasco said. Pavasco plans to go back to work Monday at Lue Manufacturing, Wakarusa, where he runs a CNC machine and builds cabinets. “I feel great now though,” Pavasco said. Lopez said he also is doing well. “This has been a complete life-changing event. I went from knowing nothing but sickness for seven years and then now have my health and strength,” Lopez said. “Doctors say Terry has super kidneys and I say Hollywood will contact him for their next Superman movie.” Pavasco said it has been an indescribable experience to donate his kidney. “People tell me I’m an hero, but I don’t want to be known as a hero, but a man who follows God’s word,” Pavasco said. Lopez has a stepson, Pavasco has five children and they look forward to spending time with them. Lopez’s wife, Julie, and Pavasco’s wife, Dawn, are glad their husbands have recovered. “It is absolutely great to see Leo healthy. There is a night and day difference and we are glad they came into our lives,” Julie said. Dawn said she is glad her husband donated his kidney. “I support the decision he made to donate his kidney,” Dawn said.
