My name is Ramiro Ybarra. I am from Texas, South Texas to be exact and Weslaco is the name of my town and is where I grew up. I was in the Navy from March 1990 to April 1994 and was stationed on the USS FAIRFAX COUNTY LST-1193. I am Engineman Third Class (EN3 ) Ybarra, which is Petty Officer Third Class. I worked in both M & A division.
I went on three Mediterranean cruises each one was six months long, which means I crossed the Atlantic six times. The ship has reunions every two years and we all go, from the shipmates that commissioned the ship to the decommissioning crew. I am a very lucky person, the Navy gave me an extended family.
When I left the Navy, I went to work for a grocery company called HEB. It’s really popular in Texas. I worked for them for 10 years was as a grocery manager by the time I left in 2004. In 2004, I moved to New Hampshire where I worked as a maintenance tech at an apartment complex. I left there and went back to retail. Now I work for a grocery store called Hannaford. I have been there 12 years now and am currently part time and only working 16 hours.
I am single and have never been married. I have three sisters and one brother, who all live in South Texas. I also have plenty of nieces and nephews. I love my family and spend as much time with them as I can. The last time I saw them was five years ago, after my kidneys gave out. We talk via FaceTime and its like the last time I saw them. I am also lucky to have my Navy brothers, which is my extended family.
I am also lucky to have a best friend that I considered my brother; he is my support person. Our families have known each other since before we were born. It’s like our families were meant to know each other. That’s how lucky I am to have another extended family.
I have been on dialysis since Thanksgiving 2020; I go to dialysis Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with my chair time is starting at 6:20 am. My first six months were the hardest to do and I felt poorly after each treatment. Little by little things started coming together. I learned what foods to eat and to stay away from. Now after treatments, I have about 99% good days and every now and then a bad day.
Between my brother and myself we have a seasonal campsite that we go to starting in May all the way until October. I got so weak that I could not pick myself up from the floor. We went to a local bike shop to drop off a bike to get maintenance , that is where I found the mountain bike that called my name.
I bought the bike and started riding trails. I started getting stronger and stronger and stronger. I had gotten so strong that one morning that I rode back and forth to dialysis, which is three miles away. That voyage to the clinic had every doctor, nurse and tech talking of my ability and strength. Now I play pickle ball, tennis, go swimming, walk, a little bit of running, and lift weights, anything just to stay active.
After I receive my kidney I want to promote this program for veterans who know nothing about the program and what it can do for them. Through faith and my entire family encouraging me, I am in a better place and acceptance with my kidney disease.
Thank you,
Ramiro Ybarra
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Ramiro’s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611