As someone born and raised in Puerto Rico, Jose Lugo loved his heritage, including the culture, food, and music. But the most important thing was sharing it all with family.
“His world was his kids and his granddaughter,” his wife, Teresa said. “Family was it.”
Teresa, who shares Jose’s heritage, met him on a trip to Puerto Rico. They noticed each other at the airport in San Juan on the way in. Afterward, traveling back to Philadelphia, they were surprised to see each other on the return flight. One thing led to another, and a year later they were married.
They built a great life together, with Jose working as an aviation fueler. They eventually moved to Virginia Beach. Along the way they had a daughter, Kristina, followed by a son, Robert. Later, a granddaughter, Cecilia Marie, came along.
When Jose was laid off from his job after the historic events of Sept. 11, he transitioned to doing even more for the family – letting Teresa grow her career as a benefits professional. He enjoyed taking care of the kids and the house, including doing yardwork and maintaining the pool.
When Cecilia Marie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7, Jose was all over it. “He doted over her,” Teresa said.
Jose had developed ailments himself, including Type 2 diabetes and diabetic neuropathy, but overall his health was fair. It was a shock when he suddenly collapsed in 2017. Doctors later determined that he had a brain aneurysm.
“It was earth-shattering when he passed,” Teresa said.
The family took some comfort in knowing that Jose was a registered organ donor. His selfless decision resulted in a woman receiving a second chance at life through the gift of his liver.
Afterward, the Lugos faced a lot of questions from their extended family. On Jose’s side, his father had also been organ donor. But on Teresa’s side, “we were the first ones to do this. Even at work, a lot of people told me they never thought about donation.”
Teresa is dedicated to spreading the word about donation. She’s also committed to caring for herself through activities such as journaling and connecting with other donor families through LifeNet Health events. “It’s great to sit down and do activities with people who have been through the same thing,” she said. “It has brought me so much comfort.”
Additional Resources
- Read more Stories of Hope
- Register as a donor