Teenager’s Organ Donation Saves Lives in Quintana Roo

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A teenager from Quintana Roo has become the state’s first multi-organ donor of 2026 after her parents authorized the donation of her liver, kidneys, and corneas following her death from brain death.

The procedure took place on March 24 at Hospital General Regional No. 17 in Cancún, where specialists from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) harvested the organs after the young woman was declared brain dead.

Her father, identified only as Juan N., said the family remembered conversations they had about organ donation after their daughter’s accident. “For us, donation represents love through actions,” he said. “We know our daughter is no longer here, but her life continues in other people. We hope those who receive these organs take advantage of this new opportunity and live fully.”

The liver was sent to the High Specialty Medical Unit (UMAE) Pediatric Hospital at the National Medical Center Siglo XXI in Mexico City to address a national pediatric liver emergency. The kidneys went to the UMAE Pediatric Hospital at the National Medical Center of the West in Guadalajara, Jalisco, while the corneas were channeled to the UMAE Specialties Hospital at the Bajío Medical Center for pediatric patients, all within the IMSS system.

Dr. María Teresa Ramos Hernández, director of HGR No. 17, called the donation “an act of love” and explained that organ procurement constitutes the first phase of the donation process, involving specialized surgical extraction before transplantation to compatible patients.

This marks the first multi-organ donation of 2026 in Quintana Roo. During the first months of the year, HGR No. 17 had already registered three cornea donations.

IMSS in Quintana Roo recognized the family’s generosity and strength, noting that their gesture transforms pain into hope. The institute reiterated its call for people to learn about and discuss organ donation with loved ones, emphasizing that such decisions can save many lives.