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‘Thank you for saving my life’: San Antonio man reunites with transplant doctor who donated kidney in 2021
Summary by The San Antonio Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Courtney Friedman, Misael Gomez , KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 24, 2026
· 3 min read
It was a reunion full of gratitude between a San Antonio transplant doctor and the man she donated a kidney to back in 2021. Joel Gonzalez surprised Dr. Kelley Hitchman on Monday at her lab for what he called their fifth “kidney anniversary.” KSAT has been reporting on the transplant pair for yea...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The San Antonio Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Courtney Friedman, Misael Gomez, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Kelley Hitchman on Monday at her lab for what he called their fifth “kidney anniversary.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The reunion between Dr. Kelley Hitchman and Joel Gonzalez puts a face to the critical need for living donors in San Antonio. With over 109,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant nationwide, the local community can learn from Hitchman's selfless act. As the leader of University Health's Transplant Institute, Hitchman's decision to donate a kidney not only changed Gonzalez's life but also highlights the success of living donor transplants. The significant difference in wait times between living and deceased donor transplants, five to seven years, underscores the urgency for more people to consider donation. San Antonio residents can take inspiration from Hitchman's story and Gonzalez's thriving recovery to explore the possibility of becoming a living donor. By doing so, they can give others a second chance at life, just like Hitchman gave to Gonzalez. This local story can spark a wave of kindness and generosity in the community.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? It was a reunion full of gratitude between a San Antonio transplant doctor and the man she donated a kidney to back in 2021. Joel Gonzalez surprised Dr. Kelley Hitchman on Monday at her lab for what he called their fifth “kidney anniversary.” KSAT has been reporting on the transplant pair for yea...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Courtney Friedman, Misael Gomez at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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