Impact That Lasts a Lifetime
Meet Former Camper, Perla Ortega
My name is Perla Ortega, and my kidney turned 16 years old in June 2022. I was eight years old when I was diagnosed with kidney failure. The first and only time I saw my mom cry was when the doctor told her I needed to be placed on dialysis and would need a kidney transplant. I cried with her because I could see she was in emotional pain. The countless doctor visits began, and I was placed on dialysis at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
Out of this diagnosis, something great did came from this hiccup in my life, which is The Painted Turtle. – Perla
While under the care of Dr. Gary Lerner, my pediatric nephrologist at CHLA, I learned about The Painted Turtle. I attended Camp for the first time during the Kidney Disease & Transplant summer session in 2004, The Painted Turtle’s first year of operation. It was life-changing knowing there were other kids who had the same condition and they understood the life changes that had to be made. From then on, I looked forward to coming to The Painted Turtle each year.
One of my most memorable moments in life happened at The Painted Turtle! One evening during my third summer, a counselor woke me up and brought me to the common area of my cabin. There I found Dr. Lerner, who happened to be volunteering for this session.
He asked me, “do you know why I’m here?”
I replied, “because I can’t sleep.”
Dr. Lerner chuckled and said, “no, because we have a kidney for you.”
I called my mom with Dr. Lerner to share the incredible news. It might sound odd, but I was carrying different feelings. I was overjoyed, but also sad. I had a kidney waiting for me, but I had to leave The Painted Turtle three days early. That’s how much being at Camp meant to me.
I also will always remember learning that there was a kidney waiting for me while I was at The Painted Turtle.
Today I have the courage to seek greater things. In my life, I’ve been able to try different activities and accomplish several goals that I never thought would have been possible due to my illness and missing so much school. I learned how to snowboard, surf, and ride a motorcycle, and I graduated with my B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Cal State Dominguez Hills last year.
The Painted Turtle is where my heart is, and I have a calling for it. I appreciate all the magic the volunteers and staff brought to me while I was a camper. I want to now be the person behind the scenes who makes the magic happen for the campers today. I am beyond grateful for my unknown donor and for OneLegacy, a Painted Turtle supporter and partner, who acquired this kidney I now call my own.
To give back to kids going through the same thing is personally rewarding, but I hope I inspire and show them that anything is possible. – Perla