SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman, on a mission to save her husband, has hit a bump on the road.
Maria Bautista had been planning on donating her kidney to her husband, but had to lose weight first. With the help of California Medical Weight Management, Bautista lost 30 pounds, so she could donate a kidney to her husband, Salvador Bautista.
"I'm more worried about my husband because his health is pretty bad," said Maria. "And, this is the only thing that can save him."
But with the surgery in sight, Salvador was attacked by a pit bull over the summer. He needed a blood transfusion to save his life. The end result however meant that Maria was no longer a match.
She was devastated, but decided she would still donate a kidney to someone with her mother in mind.
"When she passed away, if I would have known what I know now, I would have donated her kidneys," said Maria. "When I got the phone call, I was offended and hung up the phone. That kills me now because I could have helped someone."
Soon after Maria made her decision to continue as a donor for another person, a match was found for Salvador.
So now, they will both be undergoing surgery. "That does scare me that something might happen to her," said Salvador. Afraid something will go wrong and that Maria wouldn't be able to be there for their four kids, but he said that Maria would not give up.
"As much as I don't want to say it, yes, (I'm proud of her), she is something else. I mean I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her."
Their surgeries are scheduled for Wednesday at Methodist Hospital.