The nurses of the first and last transplant in Spain: "Back then, there were families who wanted their dead intact. We are going back to the same thing"

In 1965, Spain witnessed its first organ transplant, a kidney, at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. The procedure was led by Dr. Gil-Vernet and involved a team of twelve, including nurse Pilar Munarriz. They had previously experimented with dogs to prepare for this historic moment. The recipient was a woman named Pepita, and the donor was a young man who had suffered a motorcycle accident. Despite societal resistance and ethical concerns from the Church, the operation was successful, marking a significant medical milestone. Today, nurse Victoria Reina coordinates transplants and faces challenges with families regarding organ donation, reflecting on the evolving attitudes towards this life-saving practice.