Kidney Transplant Patient Iliana Discovers Her Superpower

“Do you think everyone has a superpower and most people just don’t know it?” asks Iliana Gruntorad at the beginning of The Diamond and the Limpet, a new short film about “an ordinary girl” and her journey to kidney transplant.

Gruntorad, the star of the film, asks this while also questioning whether or not she can harness her inner strength to survive her kidney failure and the rare disease that (surprise!) accompanied it. The film follows 15-year-old Gruntorad as she discovers her illnesses, copes with their effects, and ultimately decides how to handle her situation.

Curious to see how it ends? Watch the 15-minute film in full below:

The Diamond and the Limpet premiered at Children’s Hospital Colorado on March 24, 2016, to an audience of patients currently awaiting organ transplants along with their families, peers and hospital caregivers. Gruntorad brought her family and friends from Castle Rock, Colo., to the premiere as well, and she and her mother, Carrie Gruntorad, answered questions and administered advice during a Q&A session that took place immediately following the film.

The video team at Children’s Colorado wrote, directed and produced the short film. The project started as a documentary-style video, but it grew into a full-fledged narrative after Iliana impressed the Children's Colorado team with her perseverance to remain healthy, despite numerous roadblocks.

The key aim of the film is to console children awaiting organ transplants and inspire them, and the people supporting them, to embody superhero traits to overcome their challenges.

Learn more about organ transplants at Children’s Colorado.