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Living Donation Forum / June 2023 Living Organ Donor Anniversaries

« Last post by Clark on May 31, 2023, 05:07:50 PM »

It's June, and in the Northern Hemisphere, folks are becoming distracted by warming weather and plans for summer frolic, whether traveling, staycation, or just snatched moments in the sunshine. If you will, please take a moment to remember with us the stories of selfless hope, desperate love, and new life, usually, usually long, sometimes less so. Imagine the courage of Elba hoping to save her baby daughter 44 years ago, then again seventeen years ago, when her gift of a kidney gave out, and Gabriela came to LDO. Gabriela poured out her heart to us and the world thereby. Katy offered to help, and did, giving Gabriela, and her mother, Elba, seven more years together. However you have come upon this list, each entry is a story of not one person, nor two, but extended families, friends, teams of medical professionals, often the media, too. Best wishes to all, and joy in living another day!

Forty-fourth anniversary:
Elba Ardenghi de Lacabe donated a kidney to her daughter, Gabriela, on June 26th, 1979. Gabriela survived until May 21st, 2014 with another kidney, dying from a condition unrelated to her transplants

Forty-second anniversary:
Theresa Wallace donated a kidney to her sister, Kathy Voelker, on June 10th 1981

Thirty-ninth anniversary:
Kathleen Saucier donated a kidney to her father on June 19th, 1984

Thirty-sixth anniversary:
Debbie Sanden donated a kidney to her hubby, Bill, on June 4th, 1987

Thirty-fourth anniversary:
Vanessa Opokuyamoah-Freeman donated a kidney to her brother in June, 1989

Thirty-third anniversary:
Margy Conley donated a kidney to her brother on June 19th, 1990

Twenty-seventh anniversary:
Tonya Massey donated a kidney to her brother in June, 1996
Cheryl Carroll donated a kidney to her sister on June 10th, 1996

Twenty-sixth anniversary:
Shelly Dowdle donated a kidney to her son on June 17th, 1997
Ann Taylor donated a kidney to her brother on June 27th, 1997

Twenty-fourth anniversary:
Adam Backstrom donated a kidney to a friend on June 2nd, 1999

Twenty-third anniversary:
Bobbiann donated a kidney to her father (since deceased) in June, 2000
Justin Rhodes donated a kidney to his brother on June 5th, 2000
Maureen Boncey donated a kidney to her husband, Paul, on June 5th, 2000
Handi Skorich donated part of his liver to a friend on June 9th, 2000

Twenty-second anniversary:
Karl Poythress donated a kidney to a cousin on June 1st, 2001
Chris Garrison donated a kidney to his brother on June 14th, 2001
Stacey M Gachi donated a kidney to her spouse, Nicholas T Gachi, on June 28th, 2001

Twenty-first anniversary:
Charity donated a kidney to a friend on June 3rd, 2002
Laura Odom donated part of her liver to her sister-in-law on June 19th, 2002
Laurie Bonner donated a kidney to her cousin, Melissa (Missy) Siemer, on June 28th, 2002

Twentieth anniversary:
Raymond Fuhrman donated a kidney to his second cousin on June 13th, 2003
Susan Riemenschneider Bentjen donated a kidney to her brother, Bob, on June 25th, 2003

Nineteenth anniversary:
Julie Newland donated a kidney to her daughter on June 7th, 2004
Jenny Oad donated a kidney to Mike Fogelman via LDO! on June 11th, 2004
Gwen donated a kidney to her father on June 15th, 2004
Madalene (Midge) Guererri donated part of her liver to her brother-in-law (now deceased) on June 15th, 2004
Jennifer Currao donated a kidney to a friend on June 16th, 2004
Angi Voris donated a kidney to her brother-in-law on June 24th, 2004
Jackie Mckee donated a kidney to her mother on June 29th, 2004

Eighteenth anniversary:
Diana Morrow donated a kidney to her mother, Barbara Robison, on June 1st, 2005
Marjorie Vukelich donated a kidney to her brother on June 2nd, 2005
Kim Council donated part of her liver to her sister on June 13th, 2005

Seventeenth anniversary:
Victoria Dadi donated a kidney to her mother on June 1st, 2006
Sue Entner donated a kidney to her husband on June 5th, 2006
Barbara Douglass donated a kidney to her sister on June 6th, 2006
Tiffany Cutts donated part of her liver to her mother on June 19th, 2006
Joe Eng donated a kidney to his sister on June 27th, 2006
Karen Endsley donated a kidney to her brother on June 29th, 2006

Sixteenth anniversary:
Laleise Curtiss donated a kidney to her sister, Kim, on June 1st, 2007
Dana Swajanen donated a kidney to her Dad on June 5th, 2007
Katy Gagnon donated a kidney to Gabriela, who she met on LDO, on June 5th, 2007. Gabriela survived until May 21st, 2014, dying from a condition unrelated to her transplants
Lydia Carollo donated a kidney anonymously on June 6th, 2007
Marlin McDaniel donated a kidney to his son on June 6th, 2007
Philip James donated his left kidney to a good friend on June 6th, 2007
Robert Rice donated a kidney to a stranger on June 20th, 2007
Stephanie McGoldrick donated a kidney to her father on June 27th, 2007
Janine McLendon donated a kidney to her friend Chris on June 29th, 2007

Fifteenth anniversary:
Brad Erhardt donated a kidney to Jeff Carlson, an unrelated coworker, on June 6th, 2008
Rebecca Bertha donated a kidney to her brother, Greg, on June 10th, 2008
Moish Drelich donated a kidney to his brother, Max, on June 13th, 2008
Denise Pettenger donated "Sidney", one of her kidneys, to her brother, Mark, on June 17th, 2008
Gillian Turner donated a kidney to her husband, Ian, on June 24th, 2008
Beth Johnson donated a kidney to her father on June 26th, 2008
Noby Takaki donated a kidney to her father on June 26th, 2008

Fourteenth anniversary:
Cathy Duke donated a kidney to her brother-in-law, David, on June 4th, 2009
Laura McEvoy donated a kidney to her sister-in-law, Beth Foster, on June 5th, 2009
Mary Villanueva donated a kidney to her brother, Saldemar, on June 10th, 2009
Valentine donated a kidney to her then 14 year old daughter on June 17th, 1988. Her daughter passed away in 2009
Bill Clarke donated a kidney to his father, Bill Clarke (yes there were confusions in the hospital!), June 23rd, 2009
Liz donated a kidney to her best friend, Jan, on June 24th, 2009
Ellen Billman donated a kidney to Tony, a co-worker turned friend, on June 25th, 2009

Thirteenth anniversary:
Jim Coletti donated a kidney to a friend on June 7th, 2010. Despite early setbacks, both he and his recipient are well
Peggy Zufall donated her left kidney to a co-worker's son on June 8th, 2010
Judy Rottinghaus became a non-directed kidney donor on June 15th, 2010
Kali donated her left kidney to her husband on June 22nd, 2010
Elaine Damo donated a kidney to her cousin, Patricia, on June 29th, 2010
Joey Whisenhunt donated a kidney to his wife on June 30th, 2010

Twelfth anniversary:
Lesley Elder donated a kidney to her ex on June 1st, 2011
Marcus Brooks donated a kidney to his Momma, Marie Johns, in June 2011, despite having to get all the preliminary testing and schedule the surgery in secret, against her wishes
Angela donated part of her liver to her mother-in-law, Aura Puello, on June 2nd, 2011
Jocelyn Sherman donated her left kidney to Dana Stibolt, a recipient she found here on LDO, on June 6th, 2011
Lauren Herschel became a non-directed kidney donor on June 7th, 2011
Lisa Fulcher donated a kidney to her best friend's father, Chuck, on June 9th, 2011
Angelica donated her right kidney to her husband on June 10th, 2011
Erika Garcia donated a kidney to a fellow church-goer on June 13th, 2011
Jenn Hames donated a kidney at Johns Hopkins on June 20th, 2011, in exchange for one her husband received in April 2011
Peter Robinson donated a kidney to his sister, Christina Brooker, on June 28th, 2011

Eleventh anniversary:
Judy Willson donated a kidney to her cousin-in-law, Gary Pate, on June 5th, 2012
Elizabeth Sims donated a kidney to her friend, Fernando Diaz, on June 12th, 2012
Ryan Schaffer donated a kidney to his big brother, Jason Lundell, on June 18th, 2012
Vickie Carmody donated a kidney to her husband, Christopher, on June 19th, 2012
Liz Dailey donated a kidney to her brother, Joe Broin, on June 21st, 2012. "It has been an experience that I will never forget. To be able to give someone that you love a second chance at living a healthy, happy life is an amazing feeling.”
Vicki Whitelaw donated a kidney to her friend, Sarah Key, on June 27th, 2012
Donna Aceto donated a kidney to Erin, her friend, on June 29th, 2012

Tenth anniversary:
Brad Witt donated a kidney to his brother on June 3rd, 2013
Dave donated a kidney to his Dad on June 20th, 2013
Angie A. donated a kidney to her brother, Bill, on June 26th, 2013. Despite his dying 6 months later, she would do it again to give him the five good months he had.
Colleen Glenney donated a kidney as the non-directed leader of a three donor-recipient pairing on June 27th, 2013

Ninth anniversary:
Kristina Wadsworth donated a kidney to Katrina Fullmer on June 3rd, 2014
Cleton Sarmiento donated a kidney to his sister, Angelica Bergado, on June 9th, 2014

Seventh anniversary:
Beth Simpson donated a kidney to her father, Ronald, on June 1st, 2016

Sixth anniversary:
Amanda Hall donated a kidney to her father, Lonnie Brown, on June 26th, 2017

First anniversary:
Michele Valdez became a non-directed kidney donor on June 7th, 2022. She hasn't yet learned anything about her recipient. "It was one of the best decisions." She's now being tested as a liver donor.
Lauren Miller donated a kidney to benefit Karol Frank’s sister Bonnie on June 22nd, 2022.

Living Donation in the News / Met police investigate more organ trafficking cases in UK

« Last post by Clark on May 08, 2023, 04:12:06 PM »

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/05/met-police-investigate-more-organ-trafficking-cases-in-uk

Met police investigate more organ trafficking cases in UK

Modern slavery team reveals further allegations of people being trafficked to London for body parts

The Metropolitan police is investigating more cases of organ trafficking in the UK after new victims came forward following the first conviction for the offence under modern slavery laws.
Detectives from Scotland Yard’s modern slavery and child exploitation team have said they are investigating more allegations of people being trafficked for their body parts to London and other areas of the UK.

They also confirmed that Operation Manoa, the investigation that led to the conviction at the Old Bailey of three kidney traffickers, including a senior Nigerian politician, Ike Ekweremadu, “continues to be ongoing”.
Det Supt Andy Furphy, who leads the modern slavery team for the Met, paid tribute to the bravery of the victim in the case, a 21-year-old street trader from Lagos who was trafficked to London as a potential kidney donor for Ekweremadu’s sick daughter, Sonia.
The man, who cannot be named because the identity of victims of modern slavery are protected, was falsely presented as a willing donor to a private renal unit at London’s Royal Free hospital with forged documents falsely claiming he was Sonia’s cousin. When the proposed transplant was rejected, the victim fled to the police in fear for his life because he believed he was being lined up for another transplant in Nigeria.
Speaking at a media briefing, Furphy said he could not disclose details of ongoing investigations or the numbers involved, but said the cases were “not just in London – it’s farther afield as well”.
He added: “It’s difficult to say how serious it is in the country right now. We often find as soon as something gets highlighted in the public sphere … others victims come forward. This is now not the only investigation we’ve got into organ harvesting.”

Furphy cited World Health Organization estimates that suggest up to 10% of organ transplants globally are done on the black market. “In the UK we don’t see that – it is still a tiny percentage. I don’t think the true extent of it is truly known both at home and abroad. We’re looking to build those intelligence gaps,” he said.
The kidney harvesting case highlighted vulnerabilities in the UK’s vetting system for living transplant. Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson, in his sentencing remarks, echoed the prosecution’s suggestion that “a lesson to be learned from this case is that clinicians must be alive to the risk of trafficking and report cases like this when concerns arise”. The judge said he entirely agreed.
As a result of the case, the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), which regulates transplants, has reviewed hundreds of similar operations since 2017. In a statement it said: “When the HTA learned of this case, we immediately took steps to review all cases with potentially similar features, with a focus on those cases with overseas donors and cases in the private sector. This review looked at just over 600 cases.”
The Old Bailey heard that Chris Agbo, 50, an NHS consultant nephrologist at Hinchingbrooke hospital in Cambridgeshire who runs Vintage Health, a medical tourism company, was paid by the Ekweremadus to help facilitate the proposed kidney transplant. He also helped arrange an earlier successful kidney transplant at the Royal Free involving another man suspected of being trafficked from Nigeria, the jury was told.
The Old Bailey heard that Agbo examined the abdomen of the victim trafficked by the Ekweremadus, who then feared he was being lined up for another transplant in Nigeria.
North West Anglia NHS trust confirmed that Agbo was employed at Hinchingbrooke hospital, saying it was “unable to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing”.
Agbo, president of the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain, has been approached for comment.
Detectives investigating the organ trafficking plot said the HTA and clinicians involved in transplants should do more to ensure the police were alerted when there were concerns about organ trafficking.
Furphy said: “We have since done some significant training with the Royal Free hospital. We are in wider discussions with the NHS as well.”
DI Andy Owen, who was also involved in the investigation, said: “There’s definitely some sort of learning to come out of the hospitals and that’s something that we’re engaged in as a separate matter. They [the Royal Free] did raise safeguarding concerns and we’re doing a separate piece of work to up-skill them around modern slavery and the action they should be taking.”
He added: “The main piece of our work is with the Human Tissue Authority to ensure that they have processes in place to be alerting us as the police [when there are concerns about trafficking].”
In a statement, the HTA said it would continue to ensure that living organ donations were made with consent, free of any duress, coercion or reward. It said: “Our guidance for transplant teams and independent assessors includes when and how to raise safeguarding concerns. We continue to focus on identifying and addressing any areas we might further tighten and refine. We have also increased the scrutiny we give to cases that involve overseas donors and cases taking place in the private sector.
A spokesperson for the Royal Free said: “We continue to work closely with the Met to ensure all those working in our transplant services are aware of the law around organ trafficking and know what to do if they suspect a crime has been committed.
“In addition, the trust has worked with the Met and the HTA to develop a training package that can be used by other trusts to increase awareness and understanding of organ trafficking among healthcare staff.”

Living Donation in the News / Iranians Selling Their Organs Abroad Due To Poverty

« Last post by Clark on May 08, 2023, 04:01:33 PM »

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202305040392

Iranians Selling Their Organs Abroad Due To Poverty

With the deepening economic crisis and skyrocketing inflation, the sale of body organs abroad is reaching alarming levels in Iran, local media warns.
Organ trafficking has become a major problem with people selling kidneys, liver, cornea, bone marrow, sperm, and ovum out of poverty.
Jahan-e-Sanat daily wrote Thursday that some middlemen send the prospective donors [N.B.: sellers] to neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Iraq to sell their body parts for $7,000 to $15,000.
This is the result of the country’s economic crisis, which has left many people struggling to survive. In some cases, people have even been forced to sell their organs to pay for medical bills or to support their families.
The organ trafficking industry has been estimated to be worth millions of dollars, with organs being sold to wealthy individuals. The organs are usually obtained through coercion or deception, with some being promised money and then never receiving it once the organ has been taken out.
Although Iranian law prohibits the sale or purchase of body organs, the online market is booming, and no one is taking action.
“My blood type is O negative, and I am 22 years old. I will sell my kidney for 5 billion rials (10,000 USD). Due to my financial issues, I have no choice but to sell my kidney. If you want my liver, I will sell a part of it for 2 billion rials (4,000 USD),” a young man told Jahan-e-Sanat.
According to government figures, more than 1,480 people receive a kidney transplant from a living donor [N.B.: seller] in Iran annually, which is about 55 percent of the total of 2,700 transplants each year.

[N.B.: There are no more living donors in Iran, only sellers.]

Living Donation Forum / Re: May 2023 Living Organ Donor Anniversaries

« Last post by Michael on May 03, 2023, 08:36:19 AM »

Happy 20th anniversary, Clark/John!

Living Donation Forum / May 2023 Living Organ Donor Anniversaries

« Last post by Clark on May 02, 2023, 06:06:53 PM »

Twenty years for me and my recipient! More for many, less for even more. May these remembrances bring you joy, and if not, heart’s ease. Best wishes, all!

Thirtieth anniversary:
Kay donated a kidney to her sister Penny on May 27th, 1993

Twenty-seventh anniversary:
Katy Moyer donated a kidney to her mother, Kris McCallum, on May 8th, 1996
Laura Robinson donated a kidney to her father on May 9th, 1996

Twenty-fourth anniversary:
Monique Martin donated a kidney to her niece on May 7th, 1999

Twenty-second anniversary:
Pauline Snyder donated part of her liver to her sister on May 2nd, 2001
Bryan Urmetz donated a kidney to his brother on May 5th, 2001

Twenty-first anniversary:
Paul J. Fuller donated part of his liver to his father on May 7th, 2002
Terri Craft donated a kidney to her stepfather on May 14th, 2002
Lisa Georges donated a kidney to her spouse on May 24th, 2002

Twentieth anniversary:
Debi Ashley-Shaw donated a kidney to a friend on May 1st, 2003
Betty Minton donated a kidney to her mother on May 7th, 2003
John Hodges donated his left kidney to Margo Zelermyer on May 8th, 2003
Tina Hayman donated a kidney to her father on May 12th, 2003
Gigi Snyder donated a kidney to her son, Michael, on May 14th, 2003
Kris Wymenga donated a kidney to an unrelated recipient on May 16th, 2003
Debby Rappe donated a kidney to her sister on May 21st, 2003
Dawn Chandler donated a kidney to her brother on May 28th, 2003

Nineteenth anniversary:
D. Patrick Dewey donated a kidney to his brother on May 4th, 2004
Pete Ramirez donated a kidney to his fiance, Connie Martinez, on May 4th, 2004

Eighteenth anniversary:
Helen Smunt donated a kidney to her daughter on May 2nd, 2005
Rob Halverson donated a kidney to a stranger on May 9th, 2005
Daniel Griffiths donated a kidney to an unrelated recipient on May 17th, 2005
Melissa Semione donated a kidney to a stranger on May 17th, 2005

Seventeenth anniversary:
Chris McDonough donated a kidney on May 4th, 2006, to a man he didn't meet until after being tested for compatibility
Christine Shedrick donated part of her liver to her sister-in-law on May 4th, 2006
Nancy Shotland donated a kidney to an unrelated person on May 4th, 2006
Julie Sutton donated a kidney to her brother on May 5th, 2006
Barbara donated a kidney to her daughter on May 11th, 2006
Brenda Joy Hubbard Oates donated a kidney to her brother, David M. Hubbard, on May 11th, 2006
Elise Romero donated a kidney to her dad on May 17th, 2006
John P. McGuinness donated a kidney to a stranger, Helen Taranto, which started a three way transfer, on May 31st, 2006

Sixteenth anniversary:
Timothy Cullen donated part of his liver to his brother on May 1st, 2007
Vicki Stronge donated a kidney to her father on May 2nd, 2007
Melanie Hall donated a kidney to her daughter on May 3rd, 2007
Joe Steward donated a kidney to a friend on May 16th, 2007

Fifteenth anniversary:
Billy donated a kidney to his mother, Anne, on May 6th, 2008
Amanda Smith donated a kidney to her aunt, Sherry Figgins, on May 9th, 2008
Jennifer Fenimore donated a kidney to her Mom on May 13th, 2008
Phillip Berry donated a kidney to a friend on May 15th, 2008
William Ransom donated a kidney to his father-in-law, Ernie Beabes, on May 15th, 2008
Steve Estlund donated a kidney to his Uncle Paul on May 21st, 2008

Fourteenth anniversary:
Laura Ranzenberger donated part of her liver to her sister, Carolyn Eversole, on May 4th, 2009
Kelly Wawrzyniakowski donated a kidney to her friend's daughter, 3 year old Mira, on May 13th, 2009

Thirteenth anniversary:
Melissa Temple donated a kidney to her aunt, Pam Libby, on May 4th, 2010
Debbie Heimlich Heffley donated a kidney to her mom on May 21st, 2010

Twelfth anniversary:
Ann E. Parker donated a kidney to a friend, James Blank, on May 10th, 2011
Sarah donated her left kidney to younger sister, Kaylah, on May 10th, 2011
Sara George donated a kidney to her sister, Molly, on May 12th, 2011
Amy Bove donated a kidney to her little brother, Nathan Wilcox, on May 24th, 2011
Josh Perkins made a non-directed kidney donation on May 24th, 2011

Eleventh anniversary:
Ray Nelson donated a kidney to his nephew, Zakry Miller, on May 7th, 2012
Alexandra Redenius donated a kidney to Steve Ferkau, an unrelated person, on May 8th, 2012
Peggy Fischer donated a kidney to her daughter, Breanna, on May 8th, 2012
Liz Nicholson donated a kidney to Jeff on May 10th, 2012
Vickie Garrett donated a kidney to her friend, Teresa Dixon, on May 14th, 2012
Donna Thomas donated a kidney to an unrelated person, Joe Gordon, on May 16th, 2012
Rebecca Palacio donated a kidney to her aunt on May 23rd, 2012

Tenth anniversary:
Martin Hubbard donated a kidney to his daughter, Karen, on May 2nd, 2013
June Irving donated a kidney to her daughter, Alison Brown, on May 15th, 2013
Cyndi Kahn donated a kidney to her friend, Luther L., on May 24th, 2013
Athena Overstreet donated a kidney to Tera O'Brien, her cousin's wife, on May 28th, 2013

Eighth anniversary:
Estephanie Zuniga donated a kidney to her husband, Max, on May 1st, 2015
Charmin Heimer donated a kidney to her sister's husband's brother, David Hutzel, on May 19th, 2015
Christine Arnemann donated a kidney to Andi Ribera, an unrelated person, on May 20th, 2015

Seventh anniversary:
Tessa Demers donated a kidney to her best friend, Caitlyn Lambert-Hutchinson, on May 16th, 2016
Frank Hodowal donated a kidney to his wife, Wendy, on May 26th, 2016
Krista Romer-McCarthy donated a kidney to an unknown person on May 26th, 2016

Living Donation in the News / Michigan lawmakers consider tax break for live organ donors

« Last post by Clark on April 27, 2023, 01:58:56 PM »

https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/michigan-house-bill-tax-break-live-organ-donor-17920436.php

Michigan lawmakers consider tax break for live organ donors

Angela Mulka

State Rep. Felicia Brabec, D — Pittsfield, introduced House Bill 4361 on April 11 to offer a tax break for live organ donors.

For tax years that begin on and after January 1, 2023, HB 4361 would amend Michigan’s income tax act of 1967 to allow taxpayers to “claim a 1-time credit against the tax imposed by this part equal to the live organ donation expenses incurred during the tax year for which a live organ donation occurs or $5,000.00, whichever is less,” according to the bill.
If Michigan were to be graded on its living organ donor protection laws, it would get an “F” according to the American Kidney Fund.
Since 2021, the American Kidney Fund has graded each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on how well their laws encourage living organ donation and reduce barriers for living donors.

Most transplanted organs are from deceased donors, and the wait for an organ from a deceased donor can last years, according to the organization. Living donation offers an alternative for individuals on the transplant waiting list and increases the existing organ supply for everyone.
“Living organ donors also require two to 12 weeks of recovery following surgery before returning to work, so job protection for living organ donors during recovery time is essential,” the American Kidney Fund wrote in a February 2023 press release. “Direct reimbursements, tax credits and tax deductions can offset all or part of the financial losses for donors that are associated with travel and lodging for testing and the surgery, medications that may be required after surgery, and other incidental costs not covered by insurance.”
“There are 2,400 critically ill Michiganders waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, plus another 16,000 are enduring dialysis and might benefit from a transplant,” Dorrie Dils, president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, an organization that runs the state’s organ and tissue donation program, said in a recent statement.
The state’s donor registry’s growth has slowed in recent years for a “variety of reasons,” according to the organization. Among them is a change that allows residents to renew their driver’s license or state ID every 12 years instead of eight. That means residents are less frequently interacting in person with branch office clerks who are required by law to ask the donor registry question.
About 95% of registrations happen during transactions at the Secretary of State. A majority of Michiganders are already registered — 56% — but rates are higher in other states.
A financial incentive for live organ donations could raise ethical issues. But the National Kidney Foundation said 21 states provide tax breaks to living organ donors as of June 2022.
HB 4361 awaits a hearing in the House Health Policy Committee.
On average, 17 Michigan residents have organ transplants every week, according to Gift of Life Michigan. Organ donors can save up to eight lives and tissue donors can substantially improve life for up to 75 sick, injured or blind people.

Living Donation in the News / Press Release: Living Donor Circle of Excellence: ALF joins AST

« Last post by Clark on April 27, 2023, 01:52:40 PM »

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-liver-foundation-announces-strategic-partnership-with-american-society-of-transplantations-living-donor-circle-of-excellence-301809655.html

American Liver Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with American Society of Transplantation's Living Donor Circle of Excellence

American Liver Foundation (ALF) and the American Society of Transplantation (AST) are pleased to announce a new partnership within the Living Donor Circle of Excellence. ALF will become the first liver organization to join AST's Living Donor Circle of Excellence and become a strategic partner. The Living Donor Circle of Excellence celebrates employers which implement internal policies that provide salary support to their employees who choose to become living organ donors.

"We are so proud to become a Strategic Partner in AST's Living Donor Circle of Excellence and work together to break down barriers to living donor liver transplant," said Lorraine Stiehl, Chief Executive Officer, American Liver Foundation and caregiver to husband, Chris, who received a living donor transplant. "Too often patients do not pursue living donation because their potential donor cannot afford to take time off for the surgery and recovery. As a caregiver, I understand the importance of having job security and paid leave in place so that someone can become a living donor to a friend, family member or anyone who may need it. That's why we are proud to offer paid leave for living organ donation to our employees at ALF and join the Living Donor Circle of Excellence."
John Gill, MD, Founder of the Living Donor Circle of Excellence said, "Living donors are heroes amongst us, their gift is lifesaving for patients in need of a kidney or liver transplant and has a huge positive impact on society. Patients facing life-threatening diseases are able to live normal lives, raise their families, and participate in their communities. By supporting living organ donors, we are also building stronger communities."

Increasing access to living donor liver transplantation is a key issue ALF is working to address. Living donor liver transplantation lags far behind living kidney donation. In 2022, living donor liver transplants represented only 6% of all liver donations compared to 24% for living kidney donations. As fatty liver disease becomes more common in the U.S., more people will progress to liver failure and require a transplant. Research estimates that fatty liver disease, also called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is present in up to 75% of overweight people and in more than 90% of people with severe obesity. In the U.S. NAFLD affects between 80 and 100 million people, among whom nearly 25% progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a dangerously progressive form of the disease. Approximately 11% of NASH patients will develop cirrhosis or liver failure. NASH is expected to become the leading cause of liver transplantation in the U.S. by 2025.
The Living Donor Circle of Excellence is a no-cost company recognition program for employers that provide paid leave for living donors. As a Strategic Partner, ALF is committed to expanding the network of nationwide employers which offer paid leave for living organ donors to help offset the financial burdens associated with giving the gift of life. Visit livingdonorcircle.com/partner/ALF to learn more.
Currently, there are over 120 members in the Circle of Excellence throughout North America, covering over 2.2 million employees. 70 employees were able to use living donor leave benefits and donate an organ. The Circle encourages other employers to follow the American Liver Foundation to help others in need of life-saving organ transplants. Learn more about AST's Living Donor Circle of Excellence at livingdonorcircle.com.
About the American Liver Foundation
American Liver Foundation's (ALF) mission is to promote education, advocacy, support services and research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease. Founded in 1976, ALF is the nation's largest patient advocacy organization for people with liver disease. ALF makes an impact in the fight against liver disease by educating patients, families, caregivers and healthcare professionals; advocating for patients and their families; funding medical research to advance treatments for liver patients; and creating public awareness campaigns about liver wellness and disease prevention. ALF is the trusted voice for all patients and families living with liver disease. Learn more at liverfoundation.org or by calling 1-800-GO-LIVER (800-465-4837).
About the American Society of Transplantation
Founded in 1982, the American Society of Transplantation (AST) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation and improving patient care by promoting research, education, advocacy, organ donation, and service to the community. The society is the largest transplant organization in North America (consisting of more than 4,000 professional members) and is recognized as the premier society for transplantation. AST members are sought out as transplant experts and advocates. Other transplant organizations, policy makers, regulatory agencies, payors, academic institutions, and the general public look to the AST for guidance, research, and resources related to transplantation. To learn more, visit: www.myast.org.
Contact:
Julie Kimbrough
JKimbrough@liverfoundation.org

Living Donation in the News / Organ donors get surprise meeting with lives they helped save [video]

« Last post by Clark on April 27, 2023, 01:50:07 PM »

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/organ-donors-surprise-meeting-lives-125302042.html

Organ donors get surprise meeting with lives they helped save

Organ donors Mark and Lynn Scotch get a surprise meeting live on TODAY with two of the people who their selfless donations helped save. Mark reunites with Hugh Smith and Lynn meets 2-year-old Cooper Thompson for the first time.

[video]

Living Donation in the News / NYPD Officer Vadrien Alston meets woman who donated kidney after seeing story

« Last post by Clark on April 27, 2023, 01:45:53 PM »

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nypd-officer-vadrien-alston-meets-kidney-donor-sophia-jackson/

NYPD Officer Vadrien Alston meets woman who donated kidney after seeing her story on CBS2

BY ALI BAUMAN

NEW YORK -- Nearly two years ago, CBS New York introduced you to a Brooklyn mother who was desperately searching for a new kidney.
Now, she is back at work as an NYPD officer and finally meeting the woman who selflessly saved her life after seeing the story on CBS2 News.
Back in 2021, CBS2's Ali Bauman first interviewed NYPD Officer Vadrien Alston, a mother of two with renal failure and in dire need of a new kidney.
"So I'm just patiently waiting," Alston said at the time.
That story aired around the country, when Brooklyn native Sophia Jackson happened to see it on a TV in Maryland.

Jackson was compelled to donate her own kidney, and even though Jackson was not a match for Officer Alston, by donating on her behalf, Alston was able to move up on the waiting list.
"If I can help, why not?" Jackson said after her kidney surgery in October 2022.
"On behalf of the entire NYPD, we say thank you for giving the gift of life, the gift of hope and the gift of optimism," said NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper to Jackson on Tuesday, three months after Officer Alston got her new kidney.
Alston was finally able to meet Jackson, the woman who saved her life, in NYPD headquarters Tuesday.
"It was just finally nice after watching your story and listening to your interview to just finally be able to meet you in person. Thank you," Jackson said to Alston.
"Thank you. I can't wait for my children to meet you," Alston replied. "Just to show my children that, you know what, even though we live in a world where it's just totally crazy, and sometimes I go home and tell them the crazy stories, that you still have some of the most magnificent people in the world that don't mind going above and beyond for a stranger. And what you did is just living proof of that."
Jackson said she never wavered in her decision to donate.
"What was it about seeing her that made you decide, I'm gonna give my kidney?" Bauman asked.
"Her optimism, actually," replied Jackson.
That optimism never made Alston doubt this day would come.
"I know that once you ask God for something, He will deliver," said Alston, "and you just have to keep the faith."
Even when it comes from the unexpected.
"Without the first story on CBS, Ms. Jackson would have never known about Vadrien," NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Edward Caban said. "We owe a special thank you to Ali Bauman and the team at CBS."
The average wait for a kidney is eight to ten years. Right now, there are more than 97,000 people in the United States waiting for a new one.
"Some people feel as if when they donate the organ, that it's gonna prohibit them from living a normal life, but it doesn't. It doesn't," Alston said. "What it actually does is it helps save someone else so they can live a normal life as well."
After meeting each other's families, Officer Alston brought Jackson to Transit District 30 in Brooklyn so she could meet her family in blue.
"Thank you for putting yourself out there," Jackson told Alston.
"Thank you for hearing me," Alston replied.

It took nearly two years, two states and two kidneys, but now these two women are connected for life.
For more information on how you can become a living kidney donor, visit kidneyregistry.org.

Living Donation in the News / Upholding the sanctity of life: Organ donation and Jewish tradition - opinion

« Last post by Clark on April 27, 2023, 12:20:55 PM »

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-739964

Upholding the sanctity of life: Organ donation and Jewish tradition - opinion
Regrettably, some Orthodox opinions still prohibit posthumous organ donation due to the misguided belief that brain death is not considered death.
By ELIYAHU FEDERMAN

Organ donation is a powerful testament to valuing life. It embodies the idea that even in death, we cherish life so deeply that we willingly offer our bodies to save others.

Lucy Dee, a victim of a terrorist attack in the Jordan Valley, exemplified this dedication to life. Tragically, Lucy and her two daughters were murdered as she was driving them on a family vacation. She and her husband had previously agreed that if she were ever declared brain dead, she would become an organ donor. In accordance with their decision, Lucy’s heart, lungs, liver and kidneys were transplanted, ultimately saving numerous lives.

Or Eshkar, a victim of a terror attack in Tel Aviv, is another recent poignant example of the life-saving impact of organ donation. His family’s altruistic decision to donate his organs saved five lives, including a 75-year-old, a 65-year-old, two middle-aged individuals and a one-year-old child.

Regrettably, some Orthodox opinions still prohibit posthumous organ donation due to the misguided belief that brain death is not considered death, even though there has never been a single case in medical history where someone truly brain dead was revived.

In an advice column, Rabbi Aron Moss cites Jewish legal authorities that discourage posthumous organ donation claiming that “to remove organs from a brain-dead patient while the heart is still beating would be tantamount to murder.” Of course, that view is totally inconsistent with medical science and reality.

According to the American Academy of Neurology, brain death constitutes an irreversible loss of all brain functions, including the brainstem, making it the accepted definition of death in the medical community. While Chabad lacks an official stance on this matter, its founder’s primary philosophical text (though not a legal treatise), Tanya, elaborates in Chapters 12 and 51 that the heart, despite being central, obtains vitality from the soul through the brain. This viewpoint also suggests to me that brainstem death, rather than heart cessation, should be the actual definition of death.

During Passover, we refrained from consuming fermented foods, called hametz. Fermentation is a process of decay, which symbolizes death. Instead, we eat matza to demonstrate our rejection of death and our celebration of life. Egyptian culture, in contrast, glorified death and preserving the dead through monuments like the pyramids and practices such as mummification. Their sacred text was called the Book of the Dead, while the Jewish Torah is often referred to as Torat Chaim, the Book of Life. Judaism exalts life.
THANKFULLY, THERE are some improvements happening. Following the implementation of a 2010 law that grants donor-card holders priority in organ allocation, Israel has experienced a significant increase in organ donations in subsequent years. Undoubtedly, donating blood, plasma and nonvital organs, like kidneys, is universally regarded as a mitzvah, a good deed, across all Jewish legal perspectives.

It is particularly notable that Orthodox Jews have a high rate of living kidney donations. The University of Chicago Divinity School reported that the majority of donated kidneys in Israel come from the Orthodox Jewish community in Israel. This is often attributed to the strong emphasis on altruism and the value of saving a life within the Orthodox Jewish community.

Disagreements exist when it comes to posthumous organ donation due to the misguided Jewish legal interpretation that death occurs at heart cessation, not brain cessation. The organs are harvested at brain cessation but the heart can still be kept artificially alive.

However, many Orthodox Jewish legal decisors, like Adin Steinsaltz, Moshe Gutnick and many others, support posthumous donation. In fact, the Halachic Organ Donor Society lists over 340 rabbis with over 85% of them, including the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, defining brain stem death as death and therefore endorsing posthumous donation.

Opposing posthumous organ donation
Some Orthodox Jews also oppose posthumous organ donation because they think it violates principles like honoring the dead and defiling a body. They argue that a body should remain intact after death in preparation for the resurrection. However, this objection is faulty because the concept of saving a life, known as pikuach nefesh, overrides these concerns. Donating organs to save a life is a higher priority and a more significant commandment than preserving a dead body.

Nevertheless, many in the Orthodox world continue to cling to the preservation of dead body parts, even at the expense of saving lives. Perhaps this is a vestige of the Egyptian culture’s obsession with preserving the dead, a misreading of the true medical definition of death, which is irreversible brain stem death or simply an irrational fear.

But the inspiring stories of Dee and Eshkar, both victims of terrorism, demonstrate the power of turning tragedy into hope for others. Their families’ selfless decisions to donate organs embody the Jewish value of cherishing life. Organ donation saves lives and it is crucial for the Orthodox Jewish community to fully embrace its life-saving potential.