A dad who lost hope in his health after failed attempts to find a new kidney cried when his daughter surprised him with a cake to break the news that she would be his donor.
Abel Linares, 58, from Orange County, California, had been suffering with health issues for several years impacting his kidneys and seeing his numbers go down.
Abel’s older daughters, Christina, 37, and Stephanie, 30, offered to be his donors – which Abel was initially hesitant about before the pair comforted him by saying they were older and making their own decisions.
But after going through a months-long testing process, the siblings were given the bad news that neither of them was a match.
The news devastated the family and Abel, who was faced with the prospect of waiting years to find a new kidney while his health continued to decline.
Secretly, though, Abel’s younger daughter, Katherine Linares, 24, who goes by Kat, had made the private decision that she wanted to step up.
She had been going through the donation process in secret: a task made trickier by the fact she was living with Abel and had to head to tests and appointments without her father knowing.
After a month or so of waiting for the results, Kat was given the good news she could be her father’s donor, and so she told her boyfriend, best friends and family members that she wanted to surprise Abel with the news.
On August 11, at her home, Kat and family members presented Abel with a cake, which read: “I am your kidney match.”
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A confused Abel looked around and questioned if her older sister was his donor, but then, when they said no, the 58-year-old turned to Kat and asked if it was her.
When Kat confirmed it was, Abel, who was already trying to fight back tears, started to sob with happiness, leaning in to give his daughter a big hug.
Kat said: “He kept looking back and forth at the cake and at me as he was trying so hard to fight his tears.
“He ended up crying and I held him tight.
“I didn’t think my dad would cry because he’s a strong man that doesn’t show his emotions.
“It felt relieving knowing that what I’m doing is the right decision and his prayers have now been answered.
“He can peacefully relax and not stress about waiting years for a candidate.
“The responses to my video were super positive and uplifting.
“It definitely helps reading these kind comments and hearing how people can relate to this, making me feel less alone.
“The message I hope to give to others is that never take anything for granted.”
