MILFORD – National Multi-Ethnic Donor Awareness Month is observed each August to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation, particularly within multicultural communities. New England Donor Services Multicultural Outreach Program Manager Ingrid Palacios joined Betsy Perez and her mother, Rosa Cubias, to discuss the importance of donation and share Cubias’ transplant journey.
Palacios said more than 60% of people waiting for an organ transplant come from multicultural and racially diverse backgrounds, making outreach and education particularly important. She also addressed misconceptions surrounding donation, including the belief that registered organ donors will not receive the same lifesaving medical care during an emergency.
Cubias’ own journey began when she was just nine years old. At 14, she was diagnosed with lupus, which eventually damaged her kidneys. By age 47, she was experiencing kidney failure and ultimately began dialysis. Cubias spent 11 years undergoing dialysis and waiting for a kidney transplant.
Friends and relatives were evaluated as potential donors, but none proved to be a suitable match. That changed on November 10th, 2025, when Cubias received a late-night phone call informing her that a kidney was available.
“It mean a lot, since that friends and family members try to check and see if they could give their kidney donation and no one was able to,” Cubias said during the interview. “So I wait for so long, it makes so much different for me now that I was really, really happy.”
Her mother’s experience inspired Perez to become a volunteer with New England Donor Services and help educate others about organ donation. Perez said she hopes sharing information can address the lack of knowledge surrounding donation in many communities.
Palacios encouraged people considering becoming donors to educate themselves and make an informed decision. She said more than 110,000 people nationwide are waiting for an organ, while 13 people die each day waiting for a transplant they never receive. She added that a single donor has the potential to save eight lives through organ donation and transform as many as 75 lives through organ and tissue donation.
People can register as donors at RegisterMe.org or when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or permit. More information about New England Donor Services and its work is available at NEDS.org.
