Meet María Luisa Sánchez

For María Luisa Sánchez, family has always been at the heart of her life. She grew up in a large household full of love, with home-cooked meals wafting through the air and rooms echoing with laughter from her mother, father, and nine older siblings. Unfortunately, kidney disease was an all too familiar sight for María and her family. Both her mother and father were diagnosed with kidney disease and were on dialysis for almost 15 years—a time frame during which she served as their caretaker.

In 2017, during an emergency hospital visit after she broke her foot, everything changed abruptly for María. Her care team noticed abnormal blood sugar levels, which prompted further testing and led to her diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.

María’s deeper connection with chronic kidney disease sparked a desire to educate her community. When Christina Lopez, program manager of CORE Kidney and a close friend of María, reached out asking for assistance with CORE Spanish-speaking health fair booths, “Celebrando La Vida: Recursos Latinos”, she immediately jumped on the opportunity. María shared, “The compassion I received from Dr. Anjay Rastogi, Christina, and the CORE Kidney Team fulfilled my need for support.”

Participating in CORE Kidney's “Celebrando La Vida: Recursos Latinos” was a transformative experience for María. She worked to inform members of her community about navigating kidney disease through CORE’s extensive resources and her own experiences. Maria explains that it was not only fulfilling to be able to educate her community, but the effects were shown even in her own parents' reactions to CORE events; “It was the ability to be able to take my dad to events like this, despite being in a wheelchair, that brought me an ultimate sense of fulfillment.”

María recounts that, despite her active participation in programs and events, she struggled to find people who would listen to her. “It's hard for me to ask for help. It's hard for me to put my story out there.”

This changed when María was offered the privilege of being a rider on CORE Kidney’s float during the 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. She recounted, “Being around other individuals who have gone through the process of kidney transplantation and celebrating the New Year opened my eyes. It made me feel like I could do this and that everything was going to be okay.”

Although María is still awaiting a transplant, she lives a life grounded in physical and nutritional commitment. Her daily routine consists of a one-and-a-half mile walk with her chihuahua, staying well hydrated, adhering to her treatment plan, and attending regular doctor’s appointments. Through these habits, María has established a routine she is proud to maintain. 

“I have a lot of regrets from when I didn't take care of myself. I'm in a position where I'm still searching for a definitive solution to achieving good, lasting health that will provide me with full independence and allow me to keep living this life I love.”

If you are interested in becoming a kidney donor, please contact the CORE Kidney Team at (310) 794-5023 or email us at [email protected] to initiate the transplant evaluation process.