A Waddell resident, Denise Vasquez, has turned a chance meeting at a baseball game into a life-saving connection through the kindness of a fellow Chicago Cubs fan. Reports from ABC15 and 12 News disclosed that Denise afflicted with a rare kidney condition, has undergone a successful transplant with the organ donated by Cathy Weadley, whom she befriended over their shared enthusiasm for the Cubs.
Denise, a Navy veteran battling kidney disease since 2008, frequented Sloan Park in Mesa to watch spring training games as a reprieve from her ailment. There, she encountered Cathy, a retired P.E. teacher from Chicago. As the friendship between the two women blossomed, Cathy discovered Denise's urgent need for a transplant. With more than 100,000 on the kidney transplant waitlist nationwide, according to Gabriel Quiroz, a kidney transplant coordinator at Dignity Health's St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Denise was running out of time, a situation the establishment of baseball couldn't resolve.
Upon learning of Denise's condition, Cathy spontaneously offered to get tested and, remarkably, was found to be a perfect match. However, in a twist befitting their shared love for the drama of the sport, Cathy withheld this information initially to surprise her friend. "I bet I'll be your match!" Cathy had said optimistically, according to Denise's recounting to 12 News.
The reveal was staged at Sloan Park, the site of their fateful encounter, where Cathy announced, "I'm your donor," ushering in tears and hugs within their circle of friends, as detailed by Denise in her interview with 12 News. The transplant, which occurred last January at St. Joseph's Hospital, was deemed a success, with Cathy humorously noting that the kidney "was a big healthy one," akin to "a baked potato." This shared ordeal has not only tightened their bond but, quite literally, shared their vitality.
"It's amazing, she saved my life," Denise said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the kidney," underscoring the weight of this altruistic act.
