BATON ROUGE — At just 32 years old, Lisa Pizzalato heard the words that would change the course of her life — “You have polycystic kidney and liver disease.” The search soon began for a kidney donor.
For many, such a diagnosis would be devastating. But for Pizzalato, now 47, it was a challenge she’d seen before. The disease runs deep in her family. Her mother had a transplant. Her grandmother battled it. Her brother has it too. Still, she remained hopeful, believing she had decades before needing a transplant of her own.
“I’ve just kind of monitored my kidney function since that time,” Pizzalato said. “My mom didn’t get a transplant until she was in her 60s, which is what I was expecting for myself. But unfortunately, a couple of years ago, my kidney function plummeted.”
A Double Diagnosis
In May of last year, Pizzalato began a transplant evaluation at Tulane. But what was meant to be a step toward hope turned into another uphill climb.
“During the evaluation process, they discovered that I had colon cancer,” she recalled. “I had to have a colon resection surgery for that, and it deferred my transplant for two years.”
The delay was devastating — and dangerous. During that two-year waiting period, her kidney function continued to decline. Today, her function sits at just 14%, with a GFR of 14, signaling an urgent need for a transplant.
“They have to make sure that you’re cancer-free before giving you immunosuppressant medications,” she explained. “I was lucky that I didn’t have to go through chemo. It was stage two, and they felt like surgery was sufficient. But, of course, it deferred me for two years.”
Tulane has now approved her for transplant surgery in June — but only if she finds a living donor.
Holding Onto Hope
Despite the setbacks, Pizzalato’s spirit remains unbroken. Three people — her cousin and two close friends — have already begun testing to see if they’re compatible donors.
“They did the first set of labs, and then what we call a cross match to see if my antibodies would attack theirs,” she said. “We’re waiting on those results right now. I should know in a couple of weeks.”
For now, she waits — but not passively. Tulane has provided a link for anyone who feels called to apply as a donor, and Pizzalato is hopeful that someone out there might be the match she needs.
“The risks are so low for donors,” she said. “If it’s on someone’s heart and they feel that God led them to do something like this, it would totally give me the opportunity to continue living a really happy and full life.”
A Life Worth Fighting For
Pizzalato isn’t just fighting for herself — she’s fighting for the people who rely on her: her children, her team, her community.
“I just want the opportunity to continue doing the things I love,” she said. “To continue being a mom, a business owner, and someone who gives back. There are so many people who depend on me — from family to employees — and I want to keep being there for them.”
Her story is one of resilience, faith, and unshakable love — a reminder that behind every medical statistic is a life full of meaning and purpose.
For those interested in becoming a living donor or learning more about the process, Tulane has provided an anonymous donor application link to help Lisa find her match and continue writing her story.
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