Woodlands resident seeks living kidney donor

The Woodlands, Texas -- Delana Forcillo, manager and treatment coordinator at Dr. William Jeff Mardaga Orthodontics, is spreading the word about her need for a living kidney donor due to kidney failure.

Forcillo came to The Woodlands from California in the ‘90s. The Woodlands “small-town feel, friendliness and the trees” have made Forcillo come to love this place she calls home. Since her employment with Dr. Mardaga in 1995, she’s developed many cherished relationships with patients and co-workers alike. She has three daughters and four grandchildren. “Traveling and family are my life,” said Forcillo.

Initially, Forcillo became ill in 2008 and ended up receiving dialysis for 18 months. In 2009 she received a kidney transplant from a cadaveric donation. However, in the past year, she began having problems again. Recent blood work indicates Forcillo is now in stage four or five kidney disease, and doctors are wanting to be proactive in finding a donor soon.

Mardaga Orthodontics Facebook page has created a post with a call for a donor to help Forcillo. “Dr. Mardaga has been the best and my co-workers,” Forcillo said. “Everyone’s just been a blessing … the patients, too, have been unbelievable. I’ve been very blessed. Let’s put it that way,” shared Forcillo.

A kidney donation needs to be a compatible antigen match. However, if there is a willing donor whose kidney isn’t an ideal organ match, all is not lost. A swap program exists which can benefit multiple parties. Forcillo’s friend and former co-worker, whom she hasn’t seen in about 20 years, stepped forward, offering to be tested to determine if she may be a good candidate for donation. One of Forcillo’s daughters has begun the process of being tested as a possible match. According to Forcillo, several patient contacts of Dr. Mardaga have also called the hospital to start the testing process for finding a kidney donor match.

Forcillo has been surprised by the support received. “It’s sometimes very overwhelming because it’s so much, and I am so grateful,” Forcillo said, “I couldn’t get through it if I didn’t have all the support from not just my family but everybody around me.”

Since 2008 her outlook has been to live life to the fullest. Delana said, “What I’ve learned in life, especially after going through this, is that you don’t know what anyone is going through. You have no clue.” She said, “I have a lot of faith; my middle name is Faith. That’s what gets me through is faith in God.”

Forcillo expressed thankfulness for the community, stating that others can help “if they could find it in their hearts to be tested to see if they are a match,” Forcillo said.

If you would like to learn about the possibility of becoming a living kidney donor on behalf of Delana Forcillo, go to the www.houstonmethodistlivingdonor.org. To fill out the questionnaire you will need to enter Delana Forcillo’s first and last name as well as her birthdate: Oct. 14, 1961. “You can call and speak with the transplant coordinator at the Houston Methodist Hospital at 713-363-8149,” said Forcillo, “Donation costs are covered by my insurance.”