Heart and Organ Transplant Recipients Share Stories in Catalonia

Elena Baez, a Barcelona resident, received a second heart transplant after her first organ began to fail. Her husband volunteered as a donor, providing a heart that saved her life, while his own organ went to another patient. Baez now leads a normal life but must manage strong medication side‑effects.

At the Arnau Hospital in Lleida, patients Cristian (44) and Josep Maria (74) recounted their own transplant experiences during the national organ‑donation day. Cristian regained hand function after a tendon graft from a donor, and Josep Maria lives a normal life twelve years after a heart transplant. The event highlighted a record 18 organ donors in 2025 and 31 transplants performed by April 2026, while emphasizing ongoing shortages of heart valves, vascular segments, muscle‑skeletal tissue and corneas. Coordinators urged the public to register their donation wishes, noting that even older donors can help save lives.