Young transplant patient helps launch new service for children needing kidney transplants

In 2018, when Gael Canizales was four, he was shot while eating with his family in a Juarez restaurant. He was immediately rushed to El Paso Children’s Hospital, EPCH, treated by the trauma team and cared for in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Because of his critical injuries, physicians at El Paso Children’s Hospital quickly diagnosed his need for a new kidney. The team at EPCH worked closely with University Health System Transplant Center and transferred him to San Antonio for evaluation before his successful transplant.

Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10:45 a.m., Gael and his mother will help launch a new service at University Transplant Center Clinic in El Paso. The partnership with UT Health San Antonio will evaluate children who need kidney transplants.

Gael received his pre- and post-transplant care from Dr. German Lozano with Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, TTP El Paso. Dr. Lozano is Gael’s nephrologist at El Paso Children’s Hospital and TTP El Paso Clinics.

“Having a transplant clinic in town,” Dr. Lozano said, “will facilitate patients to have transplant evaluation and follow-up without traveling to the transplant center. Some of these patients like Gael already have a busy hemodialysis schedule and travel is a big burden for families.”

Carla Nava, Gael’s mother, says families will appreciate having a clinic nearby. “I often had to leave my 7-year-old daughter behind to take Gael to San Antonio,” Nava said. “Not having to travel for clinic will be very helpful to us and other children and their families.”

Media are invited to meet with and interview Gael, his mother, Dr. Lozano and pediatric kidney transplant medical director Dr. Daniel Ranch when they visit the clinic Wednesday morning.

The public is welcome to learn more about the new pediatric kidney transplant service during an open house Wednesday from 4-6:30 p.m.