A kidney donor network starts in the Inland Empire, spreads coast to coast

[Clark]

http://www.sbsun.com/living/ci_19375610

A kidney donor network starts in the I.E., spreads coast to coast
Diana Sholley

Philip and Susan Lindgren always dreamed of growing old together.
Thanks to a stranger, they can.

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Riverside resident Richard Ruzzamenti, a 43-year-old yoga teacher and electrician, started the chain Aug. 15 at Riverside Community Hospital.

His kidney was removed, then flown to an anonymous New Jersey recipient. The action started a sequence that resulted in at least 10 additional kidney donations, including one for Philip.

Ruzzamenti, a humble man of few words, just wanted to do something he believed would really help others.

"Let's just say that I did it and maybe it will help somebody else to want to do it, too," he said. "I'm grateful that my mind works this way and grateful that I was able to do it."

Ruzzamenti explained that he had met someone who had donated a kidney and shared the experience with him. The story made Ruzzamenti want to help someone in the same way.

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