CHICAGO (WGN) — Two women now share a kidney, thanks to their love for the Chicago Cubs.
Most people think the last place they’d find an organ donor is in the stands at spring training in Arizona, but that’s exactly where Cathy Weadley and Denise Vasquez met before Weadley gave Vasquez a life-saving kidney transplant.
“I actually moved to Arizona for the Cubs,” Vasquez said. “I have season tickets for them here at Sloan [Park].”
“I made up my mind at the age of ten in 1969 that I wanted to work at Wrigley someday and be a PE teacher,” Weadley said. “I’ve achieved both of those dreams”
Weadley and Vasquez had no idea that when they met in 2022 at a Cubs spring training pregame event , their connection would help save the latter’s life.
“If it wasn’t for the Cubs, honestly, I would have never met her,” Vasquez said.
While serving in the US Navy in 2008, Vasquez was diagnosed with a rare disease that affects the filter in the kidneys. She received treatment for years, but in 2023, doctors told her she needed a kidney transplant.
When the two women reunited for spring training later that year, Weadley found out that Vasquez needed a kidney and was optimistic she would be a donor.
“I just happened to ask, ‘What blood type are you?’ Because I know that’s important,” Weadley said. “She goes, ‘O positive!’ I said, ‘So am I!'”
Weadley attributes why she felt called to help Vasquez to a near-death experience she had close to 20 years ago.
“I was like, God gave me my life back as I’ve always known it,” Weadley said. “I want to go back to teaching PE—coaching, doing everything I do and I’ll do good the rest of my life and this fit into it.”
When Weadley and Vasquez reunited for spring training in 2024, Weadley applied to donate her kidney. She found out she was a match in October and last month, Vasquez received Weadley’s kidney at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute in Phoenix.
“January 7th, we completed surgery and Denise walked out with a brand new kidney. Well, a 66-year-old kidney … but it works amazing,” Weadley said. “I have affectionately named the kidney the ‘Cubney.'”
One month into a new lease on life, Vasquez said, “I absolutely feel amazing. My blood is being cleaned and the kidney is working great. The labs are great. I’m no longer nauseous and best of all, I am no longer hooked to a dialysis machine.”