Phat Mach

Honor student Phat Mach immigrated from Vietnam at the age of ten. He received a kidney this past June at UCLA, inspiring his teacher Craig "Cork" Snider to ride his bike this past summer from Sacramento to Kansas City to heighten donation awareness.

Phat's Story

I immigrated to the U.S. with my family in 1996 at the age of ten. One year after we arrived I was diagnosed with kidney disease and two years after that I began dialysis. I experienced both peritoneal and hemodialysis during the next three-and-a-half years. It was difficult for me especially because of the time I missed from school.

This year, only a few days after completing my junior year, I received a call from UCLA's transplant center. A kidney had become available for transplant. This was fortunate timing, as I would not miss any of my senior year. It also coincided with a fund-raising bike ride completed by my former teacher, Cork Snider. He rode from Sacramento to Kansas City, seeking to raise funds and awareness of the need for organ donation. He says he was inspired in part by my situation.

Having a transplant has already brought about positive changes in my life: better appetite, attending school consistently and fewer food restrictions. I will also have greater choices of where to attend college next year. I hope my participation in the Rose Parade will help increase awareness for organ donation so that others will have the same opportunities.