Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center Performs Milestone 300th Organ Transplant on Grateful 37-Year-Old Patient from Teaneck

For some people a lucky number might be a winning lotto ticket. Thirty-seven-year old Jose Vasquez of Teaneck, NJ, did win the lotto in a manner of speaking. His fortunate number: 300.

Jose started dialysis for kidney failure 2023 and had only been on a kidney transplant waitlist for about a month when he received an unexpected and extremely welcome message from Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center, informing him that a kidney had become available and to get to the hospital right away.

As it turned out, Jose's kidney transplant was the team's 300th of the year, a significant milestone for any hospital offering organ transplants and a testament to Hackensack's experience and high volumes in kidney transplantation.

Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center is part of an elite group of hospitals in the U.S. to have performed so many kidney transplants in one year, and it offers most patients much shorter waiting times to receive a deceased donor kidney than other centers in the tri-state area.

Hackensack University Medical Center is also a leader in organ preservation technologies, making more donor kidneys available to the patients who need them.

Jose, who was under the assumption it could take months if not years for the right kidney match, almost didn't answer his cell phone that night in late November but is now thankful that he did.

“It’s the greatest Christmas present I’ve ever gotten!”