A familiar voice in Rio Grande Valley radio is opening up about his wait for a second kidney transplant.

Joe Cerda, better known as JoJo to KTEX country music fans, has been waking up the Valley for the last 20 years. Now he's sharing his health battle publicly, hoping to push more people toward organ donation.

JoJo is one of 10,000 Texans waiting for an organ transplant.

"It's hard, it's hard. The kidney is deteriorating," Cerda said.

His health issues began in 2013 after a routine blood test flagged a problem.

"I was doing blood work during a regular check with my doctor, and he said, 'Hey, I'm starting to see a little deterioration in your kidney. Let's keep an eye on it,'" Cerda said.

He went on dialysis for a year and a half while waiting for a transplant. In 2015, he got the kidney he needed.

"Things [were] going great because now I got a new kidney. I've got a new look on life. Life is great," Cerda said.

For nine years, JoJo kept working, spent time with some of country music's biggest stars, and enjoyed life with family.

Then in 2024, things changed.

"There's something inside my body that's beating up my kidney, which leads to dialysis round number two," Cerda said.

This time, JoJo does dialysis at home. He spends seven hours a day on it, hopeful for another kidney.

JoJo said a potential match fell through.

"All that excitement builds up, and then the balloon gets popped," Cerda said.

Any chance he gets, JoJo uses his platform to push for organ donation.

"Because of my position with KTEX, God has put me here. He wants me to talk. They're going to hear my testimony. Things will change not just for me, but for someone else," Cerda said.

His message to anyone considering donation is simple.

"If your heart, if you're convicted to donate, do it. If you're healthy enough, do it. That's special knowing that you can save the life of someone," Cerda said.

JoJo is also working on putting together a support group for anyone in the Valley on the transplant waitlist. People can reach him at jojocerda@iheartmedia.com.

Channel 5 News is teaming up with the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance for an organ donation registration drive on Friday, June 19, at our Weslaco location to sign up more people to become organ donors.

You can also sign up to be an organ donor online.

Watch the video above for the full story.ktex