Brothers Diagnosed with Kidney Disease Saved by Best Friends

SAN ANGELO, TX- Jose Fernando Osornio, 23, and Armando Osornio, 22, are brothers who have both been diagnosed with kidney disease.

Kidney disease is a very serious condition. The kidneys help clean blood, balance the salt and minerals in the blood and help control blood pressure. Without functioning kidneys, kidney disease is a potentially fatal condition.

However, both Jose and Armando have been blessed with best friends who have volunteered to participate in a kidney transplant to help save their lives. Beginning as children, Jose befriended Elliott Jones, and Armando befriended Qhue Jones.

Jose and Armando are sons of Geronimo and Yolanda Osornio, and Elliot and Qhue are the sons of Jewel Petty and Elliott Shannon Jones. The four boys were all raised in Menard.

On Nov. 17, Jose will receive a kidney from his best friend Elliott. The kidney transplant will take place at the Kidney Transplant at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio.

Jose explained how he feels as his surgery date approaches. He said he feels “nervous and excited at the same time.”

Angelina Osornio Torres, cousin of Jose and Armando, explained, “Back on January 25, 2016, Jose was working as a sheriff’s deputy in Eldorado, Texas, when he suddenly fell ill. He was taken to Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, Texas, where he learned he had kidney disease. For Jose, this meant he was on dialysis multiple times a day and could no longer work as a deputy. A career in law enforcement was a long-time dream, so this was a devastating blow.”

After surgery, Jose said, “Once I fully recover from the transplant, I plan on going back to law enforcement.”

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Hopefully, after three months, Jose will be able to return to work, like his brother Armando did.

Angelina added that Jose “feels very blessed and fortunate that this opportunity is here through his best friend. With any major surgery, there are some nerves there, but he’s seen his brother go through the same thing. He has faith and comfort in knowing that things are going to turn out well. He is just very grateful and feels that he doesn’t have enough gratitude towards his best friend Elliott for doing what he’s doing.”

Elliott currently plays Pro Minor League Football with the Cedar Park Texas Punishers in the Austin, Texas area. Elliott also works in construction.

After the transplant, Jose will no longer have to do dialysis treatments, but he explained that “most likely I will be on anti-rejection medicine for life. That’s most likely [the only treatment] I’ll be doing.”

Jose’s younger brother Armando learned back on July 3, 2015 that he also had a kidney disease. He required daily dialysis treatment and would eventually need a transplant. This news was heartbreaking for the family.

After being diagnosed, Armando was placed on a waiting list for a kidney donation. After being put on the list, Qhue had decided to undergo tests to see if he was a match for his life-long friend.

After testing was complete, sad news came when they found out Qhue was not able to be a donor, but that did not stop them. Qhue and Armando were placed on a paired kidney exchange program.

Angelina explained the exchange program as a “kidney swap”. The kidney swap “occurs when a living kidney donor is incompatible with the recipient, and so exchanges kidneys with another donor/recipient pair.”

Armando and Qhue’s surgery took place on March 2, 2016 at the same hospital Jose will be receiving his transplant, and it was a success.

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Now, Armando and Qhue are living healthy and fulfilling lives. Qhue is going to college in Muskogee, Oklahoma and will soon transfer to Howard College. Armando is still recovering and building his strength. After a full recovery, Armando plans on becoming a probation officer.

Both the Osornio and Jones family do need help in raising money, however, for the upcoming procedure. Money raised will help off-set medical costs and assist with expenses as they recover from their surgeries.

On Saturday, November 5, at 7:00 a.m., there will be a food sale in front of Lowe’s Grocery Store, 410 Ellis St, in Menard, Texas. Breakfast tacos and brisket plates will be sold throughout the day. Tacos are $3 and plates are $8. The plates will include rice, beans, and potato salad.

This fundraiser is being hosted by Jewel Petty and Marcie Petty. For more information, contact Jewel at 325-456-0533 or Marcie at 325-203-0333.

On Saturday, November 19, at 8:00 a.m., there will be a garage / bake sale at the Pablo and Mary Osornio Family residence. The address is 1449 Tipton St., Menard, Texas. Pablo and Mary are the uncle and aunt of Jose and Armando. 

For more information, contact Mary Osornio at 325-396-2409, Yolanda Osornio at 325-396-5285, or Angelina Osornio Torres at 325-374-7304.

If anyone is unable to attend these fundraising event, a GoFundMe page has been created where anyone can donate money to help with medical expenses.

“We want to help the families with any medical expenses and just general expenses as they recover,” Angelina stated. “No gift is too small; we are happy to take anything.”