Photos courtesy of “Mother, May I Have A Kidney?”

Veronica Reyes, creator of the series “Mother, May I Have A Kidney?”, aims to raise awareness about chronic kidney issues through the 90 minute comedic journey the show takes you on. With complex familial relationship dynamics, amusing character dialogue, and the battle of giving forgiveness, “Mother, May I Have A Kidney” is a wild ride that encourages reflection and sheds light on the difficult situation of experiencing kidney disease. With promising upcoming projects on the horizon, we can’t wait to see what else Reyes has in store for us! To learn more about Veronica Reyes and her latest creations, read on.

Where are you based?
I’m based in NYC.

Before becoming a writer, you were pursuing acting. What inspired you to start script writing?
When the pandemic hit, I found myself without work save for two voiceover jobs. So, I thought I’d take the time to develop my writing skills. It was something I’d always wanted to explore, and a mentor of mine had told me that she thought I was a writer.. so I started taking writing classes in the pandemic and fell in love with telling stories in written word.

Congratulations on your recent premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. What inspired you to create the show “Mother, May I Have a Kidney?”
Thank you!! It takes an army to make it all happen, but I’m so grateful to Tribeca for selecting us this year. Doug Plaut was the instigator of the whole project. He hired me to create and write him a project. He was kind enough to give me carte blanche as to the topic. Doug has shared in interviews that he was estranged from his mother and shared some of the challenges that went along with that. So, I thought it would be interesting to explore an estranged relationship between a mother and a son, and to give them a medical emergency that would tie them back together.

What can viewers expect to see from this series?
It’s a 90-minute comedic journey of needing to reconnect with family in order to survive. They can expect some laughs, and some touching moments, and if they get to see the entire series, some heartbreaking moments.

What kind of reactions do you hope “Mother, May I Have a Kidney?” gets? What do you hope viewers take away from it?
I hope they’re amused by the story. I tried very hard to take this difficult topic of needing a kidney and being estranged from a family member and tried to bring as much humor to the story as possible. I also hope that it causes viewers to think about their own relationships. I think forgiveness is a really powerful concept, and I wonder if I even understand the concept well enough sometimes. It’s something I explore in a lot of my work.

The show addresses the important fact that one might not always have a family member so keen to donate an organ for them. Why was this important to you?
Well, chronic kidney issues were on the brain when I wrote this because my father had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. I’ve also had an aunt, and a cousin pass away while on dialysis, waiting for a kidney donor. And with all of that background, there was one Sunday that I was at a church in Ohio, and I saw a homemade flyer asking for people to test to see if they were a match for a much-needed kidney. I lost it when I saw that. To imagine the desperation of someone who printed up flyers and spread them around town? It crushed me. So, all of that felt like a confirmation to write this story with this added element of a medical emergency and needing an organ from Doug’s mother. I thought it would convey a very difficult situation that I hadn’t seen often portrayed on screen, and I hoped it would cause people to think about ways to support people in their lives and to inspire people to register as organ donors.

“Mother, May I Have a Kidney?” was made in partnership with the National Kidney Foundation. Can you tell us a little bit about this foundation and what they do?
So, the NKF was not a partner in creating this series, but after we finished creating it, I approached them to see if they would endorse our show. They watched the show and came back with a quote endorsing our series and the way it raises awareness and calls people to action. They are an incredible organization. I’m not sure this is widely known, but this statistic from their website is powerful:

“Kidney disease, also known as “chronic kidney disease (CKD),” causes more deaths each year than breast cancer or prostate cancer. It is the under-recognized public health crisis.”

The NKF is doing a fantastic job of educating the public, raising awareness and bringing attention to a very serious disease.

Why did you choose to create a show that raises awareness for kidney health and organ donation?
I don’t think these issues are talked about enough, and I wanted to be able to raise awareness around kidney health and chronic kidney disease. I encourage everyone to consider registering as an organ donor.

What would you like more of the lay population to know about transplant survivors and the process?
I do explore this in the show and I tried to keep the information factual, using actual statistics, experiences and information from medical professionals - but I understand the transplant process is less invasive than one might think. Of course, if someone found that they were a match for a person in need of a donor, medical professionals will walk them through the specific risks they would face.

How has acting helped you further develop your skills as a writer? How has writing helped you further develop your skills as an actress?
Oh, all of it goes hand in hand. Early in my acting career, I booked the ABC/Disney Talent Showcase, and it helped me to get called in for a lot of tv pilots. Sometimes, I was going in for tv auditions 3-5x in one week. And reading all the corresponding scripts. All of that prep helped me understand story and tv structure- which I use in my writing.

The writing has helped my acting in a different way, I think I was able to accomplish more as a writer than as an actress and its helped me in so many ways - but one huge element is giving me the confidence to approach a role knowing that I have the ability and the skill to tackle that role. I became an actress by going to an open call for the musical RENT. From there, I felt like I was just really lucky to keep working and booking things. There were some lulls, but for the most part, I steadily jumped between theatre, musical theatre, commercials, tv, and voiceovers. It all felt … incidental? Before my writing journey, I think I was grateful for acting opportunities and auditions, but I was never really confident in it. I feel differently now. I feel like all of it is storytelling and I feel more empowered in my acting to tell stories in ways I hadn’t before.

What advice would you give to young girls looking to pursue careers in the TV and film industry, whether it be for writing, acting, or producing?
Don’t let people tell you what your limits are. You will spend your career discovering what they are or what they are perceived to be. Don’t allow people to define those limits for you. Also, try to remember that your worth is NOT in your work. That’s a tough one, but make sure you remind yourself of that as you explore your artistic endeavors. And no one can bring to a story what you can bring, so really own that within your acting, your writing and producing. Lastly, remember it’s art. It’s ok if not everyone loves what you put out there. Art is experimentation and art isn’t meant to people please. Give yourself the freedom to discover new concepts with your art.

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
I have a pilot called American Doctor, which is based on the life of my mother, who is a doctor with a photographic memory. It’s been a finalist in a number of writing competitions and I’m currently a semifinalist for The Writer’s Lab, a screenwriting competition sponsored by people like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. It would be exciting to be in this writing lab and further develop that tv series.

I’m also currently in production with some friends creating a vertical series called CostCutters. It’s The Office meets Superstore, and it follows a motley crew of big box store workers as they navigate retail life.

It has been a rough few years, and we expect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
My faith keeps me grounded and hopeful.

What is your motto in life?
That’s a tough one - I think if I had to nail down a motto for life, just one, it would be: Remember that your worth is not in your work.

To learn more about Veronica Reyes, please check out the links below:
https://www.pinoycinematicuniverse.com/mmihak

Veronica Reyes on Raising Awareness Through a 90-Minute Comedic Journey