Matriarch Of El Paso’s Famous L&J Cafe In Search of Kidney Donor

After dealing with chronic kidney issues for years, the family matriarch of El Paso's famous L&J Cafe is searching for a kidney donor.

Due to her kidney failure diagnosis, the Duran family is making a public plea to help find a living kidney donor match for their matriarch.

Referred to as the old place by the graveyard, L&J Cafe has been serving El Paso since 1927. Nestled on the corner of Missouri Ave and N. Stevens, L&J Cafe offers some of the best Mexican food and is known as a celebrity hot spot attracting everyone from Clark Gable to Martha Stewart.

The family-owned restaurant has been a longtime staple in the Sun City, and now Frances Duran, the family's matriarch, is seeking a kidney donor after suffering from chronic kidney issues resulting in kidney failure.

Now her daughter, Vanessa Duran, has taken to social media to plea for a living donor match to help her ailing mother.

Vanessa shared that her mother's kidney failure now requires her to undergo peritoneal dialysis daily. She says, "We are currently seeking a living kidney donor to prolong her quality of life. My mom is the most compassionate and caring woman I know, and we know someone out there is a match for her."

Mrs. Duran is not only co-owner of L&J Cafe but, more importantly, is a mother of five children and a grandmother to four grandchildren.

According to Donate Life America, there are currently 90,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, with an average wait time of 3 to 5 years for a kidney from a deceased donor.

The Duran family asks that anyone interested in becoming a living donor visit UTCLivingDonor.com to see if they are a match. Living donors must be at least 18 years of age and in good physical health.

As you can imagine, the Duran family hopes that by spreading the word, they will find a miracle match and will be forever grateful for giving Mrs. Duran the gift of life.