Milford residents Betsaida (Betsy) Pérez and her mother Rosa Cubias have a lot to celebrate in August, which is National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM). 

Betsy and Rosa, both of Hispanic descent, are reflecting on the importance of donation this NMDAM. 

At 13 years old, Rosa was diagnosed with Lupus, which caused significant kidney damage. Later in her adult life, she was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, leading her to need a kidney transplant. In 2025, Rosa received the life-saving gift of a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. 

Recognizing that her mother’s transplant gave her a second chance at life, Betsy became a volunteer at New England Donor Services (NEDS), where she now dedicates her spare time to advocating for the importance of organ and tissue donation, especially within communities of color. Last year, both Betsy and Rosa participated in NEDS annual Blue & Green Walk/5K in Worcester with a team called “Rosa’s Hope Squad.” 

National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month focuses on raising awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation, as well as encouraging donor registration within multiethnic communities, who make up a significant portion of the national transplant waiting list often due to higher rates of conditions like diabetes and heart disease that can lead to organ failure. 

To learn more, visit https://neds.org/.