
| "HE WHO SAVES ONE LIFE, IT'S AS IF HE SAVED THE ENTIRE WORLD" - Talmud |









| ABC TV special "Giving Life: The Story of Organ Donation" March 22, 2008 Philip Palmer, TV Anchorman talks about his kidney donation, Chaya Lipschutz is on this program as well. Click to the ABC website if you have a problem viewing this: abclocal.go.com DOUBLE CLICK ON VIDEO TO VIEW IN FULL SCREEN |
| Chaya Lipschutz, Kidney Donor/Kidney Matchmaker "Health Hero" (PREVENTION MAGAZINE) Also received an award from Kings County (NY) District Attorney, Charles Hynes photo receiving the award, click here |



| This Website was mentioned in articles/news stories in CNN The New York Daily News Pittsburgh Tribune Review Salt Lake City Tribune KRGV-ABC-TV News, Rio Grande Valley, Texas CBS TV News, Birmingham, Alabama The Jewish Chronicle, England The Jerusalem Post - Israel plus many other websites/news articles. |
Hashem, (G-d), give us two kidneys? Perhaps it is so you would have an extra one to donate and save a life!" - Dr. Stuart Greenstein, Kidney Transplant Surgeon, Professor of Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY Source of quote: www.ourjerusalem.com
again." - April Capone, former Mayor of East Haven, CT, donated a kidney to a stranger. Source of quote: www.cbsnews.com
their second kidney. It's the most expendable of organs. So giving up a kidney causes no disadvantage to your long-term health. In fact, studies have shown, that kidney donors actually live longer than the general population - because donors come from a pool of people in good health" - Dr. Michael Edye, Adjunct Associate Professor of surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY. Source of quote: www.nydailynews.com
give for the pure sake of giving, brings the biggest joy imaginable. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity that changed my life in every way." - Lori Palatnik, donated a kidney to a stranger. Her story: : "A Kidney To Give" "Since my kidney donation, I feel richer than Donald Trump and Bill Gates combined!" - David Koster, donated a kidney to a stranger. His story: "Kidney Donor Speaks Out"
been an amazing experience that ranks right up there with the birth of my 9 children. If I could, I would do it again tomorrow." - Rabbi Ephraim Simon, donated a kidney to a stranger. His story, click on "Rabbi's Kidney Donation Inspires Community"
experience in my life, second only to the birth of my three wonderful sons." - Tirtza Rosenthal, who donated a kidney to a stranger "Kidney donation was the greatest experience of my life - if I can do it again, I would do it again tomorrow." - Chaya Lipschutz,, donated a kidney to a stranger. Her story:: "Brother & Sister Donate Kidneys To Save Lives" *For other quotes, click on "Donate a Kidney" tab WELCOME! Over 82,000 people in the USA alone are awaiting a life-saving kidney. Thousands of people die each year waiting for a life-saving kidney. The purpose of this website is to educate the public about living kidney donation and inspire others to donate a kidney, so many more lives can be saved. If you are considering donating a kidney, please feel free to contact me. I can give you all the information you need, no obligation!
I donated a kidney to a stranger in September 2005 after seeing an ad in a weekly newspaper placed by a person in need of a kidney. Since my kidney donation, I have been wanting to do more - to help save the lives of others in need of a kidney. I first took out a booth at an expo in New York City to educate the public about kidney donation. I have since made some kidney matches and have more in the works. My brother donated a kidney as well, to someone on my list of people who was in need of a kidney. For more information about myself click on the "About Chaya Lipschutz" tab Thanks for stopping by! Best wishes, Chaya Lipschutz Kidney Donor & Kidney Matchmaker
they named me, that I would end up living up to my name, saving lives! * * * * For those considering donating a kidney:
their great experience. As a kidney donor myself, I would be happy to answer all your questions regarding kidney donation. No obligation ever. Please feel free to e-mail me at KidneyMitzvah@aol.com. You can also click on "Contact Us" for your convenience. For more information about kidney donation, please click on the "Donate a Kidney" tab. If you would like to read some great articles about other kidney donors and/or would like to access other informative websites on kidney donation, you can click on the tab "Websites-Kidney Donation" Here is a sample of one of the informative articles that may be important for someone considering kidney donation to read - click on the Los Angeles Times article: "Kidney Donors Have A Normal Life Span, Study Finds." Also, another great article to check out, this one from Scienceline.org - click on this article - "One Kidney Is More Than Enough - Living Kidney Donors Survive, Thrive And Rarely Suffer From Kidney Problems."
the age of 88 from pneumonia, "Pioneering Kidney Transplant Donor Dies At 88" Click here for the article.
long or longer and enjoy better quality of life than the general population. Personal note: Not long ago, I took a blood test that showed that my createnine level has improved since my kidney donation! Which means, I have even better kidney function with having only one kidney, instead of two! Also, my HDL (good cholesterol) level is about 10 points higher now then before my kidney donation! OK - this has nothing to do with my kidney functioning, but overall I may be able to say, I am healthier now with one kidney, then I was with two!
discussing with others our plans to give up a kidney, (which we don't generally need, according to experts in the field,) we have encountered people who have thought that we were crazy for donating a kidney. Generally since most of the population doesn't know anything about kidney donation, this is a "normal" reaction. I strongly suggest for those considering kidney donation, to speak to people who are educated about kidney donation, whether it is someone who has already donated a kidney, a doctor who specializes in this field, or contact any kidney transplant center that would be happy to give you all the information you need. Or you can always feel free to contact me or refer them to me and would be happy to provide them with information. Or you can also always refer them to this website! Let them check out the quotes from people in the kidney transplant field on the "Donate a Kidney" page of this website and see "Quotes from Kidney Transplant Professionals on Kidney Donation" on the left hand side of that page.
your taxes for lost wages or transportation due to organ donation And if you are a Federal employee, you can take off up to 30 days for donating an organ. However one cannot get paid for kidney donation, which is illegal.
mails. I already have a huge list of people, many of them in a very desperate need and unfortunately can't help mostly all of them at this time since I rarely get responses from people who want to donate a kidney.. At least 95% of the e-mails I get regarding a kidney - is from people who NEED a kidney, not from people who want to donate a kidney! Sorry to tell you this. If you e-mail me and I don't respond on time, or don't respond at all, please forgive me. I get so many e-mails I have to respond to as is, and have an older mother I have to help out as well. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I wish I can help you all, but unfortunately, it's hard to get any donors despite all the publicity I am getting. Most of the time I post for others, unfortunately, I don't get responses. Where are all the good people? That's why it is so important to get family members to test. If no family members, then other relatives. If no relatives can donate a kidney, then friends, acquaintances, etc. And if someone wants to donate and is not your blood type, to do a swap through your hospital. If you have a potential donor and is unsure or needs more info - have that person contact me. Thanks and again, my apologies * * * * For those who already donated a kidney:
donate a kidney and many wish they can do more - like encourage others to donate a kidney. Please click on the "Already Donated a Kidney" tab, for ideas, to share experiences etc. I would happy to hear from you! There is a form you can fill out on that page - optional, of course. Also, I recently started a Kidney Donors Club on Facebook - so you can join me on Facebook as well. * * * *
I had once read a story about June McGlashen, an ex- cop who was in need of a kidney in the NY Daily News. The article was titled, "Retired Cop, Sibs Wrestle With Rare Genetic Kidney Ill." I had contacted Ernie Nespretto who was a reporter at that time with the NY Daily News saying that I would like to try to help her. So, we got in touch with each other and I invited June to hear me speak. I had decided to incorporate in my speech that evening about June, this ex-cop who has done so much for New York, making it one of the safest big cities in the US - that we should now try to do something for her. Her boyfriend came as well to hear me speak that evening. So I decided to speak to her boyfriend to try to get him to donate a kidney to his girlfriend, At that point, he didn't even know his blood type. Anyhow, in the end, I went to visit them in the hospital after the kidney donation and they both said that it was because of me that he ended up donating a kidney to her. Sometimes even a friend can be reluctant to do so. With the right education many others might consider as well. For a speech I gave at this event in which I spoke about this ex-cop - click here: My speech at a Kidney Disease and Organ Transplantation Forum. This speech also tells the story about my kidney donation - and why I was turned down a number of times before I was finally able to donate a kidney. Update: June McGlashen engaged to her boyfriend who donated a kidney to her! She called me a while ago to tell me that she was engaged to him! Congratulations! (She must have gotten married by now!) * * * * HELP SAVE A LIFE! Mother of 2 young kids, urgently needs a kidney and is on dialysis for many years! She has high antibodies and has a very hard time finding someone who would be a match. If you are blood type O you may be able to save her life. To test for this mother of 2 or for more info, Please click on the "Contact Us" tab above the page to contact me or e-mail me at KidneyMitzvah@aol.com. (Please note. People of all blood types needed, in general, for kidney donation!) KIDNEY DONORS - HONOR ROLL Below is a partial list of some great people who have donated a kidney - and most donated a kidney to a stranger! I have been in touch with many of these wonderful people. This website is dedicated to them!
* * * * Newsletter May 2012 (last updated May 18, 2012)
from New York City, donated a kidney to a stranger on May 13th to a 22 year old man from Israel! Kidney transplant was in Israel. This mother of 8, was spending a year in Israel decided to donate a kidney while there! Hurray!
who have tested and don't know if a match et. Good luck to all these wonderful people with their testing!
from Israel Transplant took place at Beilinson in Israel. Daniel contacted me after seeing a posting I had in a Jewish group in Israel for a 24 year old who needed a kidney. That 24 year old found another donor, so I contacted another kidney donor who is with an organization in Israel called Matnat Chaim,(Gift of Life) and he knew of 2 other 24 year olds in Israel who needed a kidney and so Daniel donated to one of the two!
December to a mother of 3 from Israel. Transplant took place at Montefiore Medical Center, NY. Rabbi Sytner contacted me that he wanted to donate a kidney, after reading about me in a magazine, called Jewish Action. Another kidney donor who is with an organization in Israel Matnat Chaim, knew of a mother of 3 in Israel who needed a kidney and willing to come to the USA for a transplant, and so I asked Rabbi Sytner to get in touch with this other kidney donor. To read Rabbi Sytner's great story, "The Greatest Gift I Ever Gave", click here MY LATEST GENERAL INTERVIEW: "The Kidney Matchmaker" - Interview by Chabad.org. For the article, click here. MY LATEST TV INTERVIEW: I was interviewed recently for News12, Bronx. Filming took place at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Also interviewed, was a doctor with that hospital and also someone on my list who needs a kidney. I was also interviewed in November on News12, Brooklyn, last Also interviewed, was as a kidney recipient from a kidney match I made. To watch this short interview, "Kidney Matchmaker" click here.
donated a kidney to a 13 year old girl form Brooklyn, New York. Article about this match was in the October 30, 2011 edition of the New York Daily News. Jennifer contacted me after seeing a posting I had in a Jewish internet group. For the article, titled, "Brooklyn Teen Sofia Manfredi Finds Kidney Match, Donor on Web" click here. Transplant took place at New York Presbytarian - Cornell, in New York City. This match also made the news in other newspapers as well. SCIENTIST DONATES A KIDNEY!
donated a kidney in August to a 33 year old mother of 3 from Brooklyn. Jessica donated a kidney after seeing a posting I had in a Jewish internet group. Transplant took place at Montefiore Medical Center, New York. Congratulations to: Marci Rapps, 57 year old mother of 4 from Israel, (who had moved there from Canada), on her very recent kidney donation! Marci donated a kidney to a mother of 6, who also had moved to Israel from Canada. Marci contacted me that she had wanted to donate a kidney after she saw a posting I had in a Jewish internet group in Israel, for one of 2 sisters who needed a kidney. She ended up testing for both sisters and was a match for both! Judith Abrahams, who moved to Israel from Scotland, ended up donating to the other sister. Both Marci and Judith have become close friends, since meeting! Transplant took place at Beilinson in Israel. Marci has a great modest swimwear business called MarSea Swimwear - www.Marseamodest.com. To read Marci's great interview, "Modest Swimsuit Designer Donates Kidney to a Stranger," click here Congratulations to: Aaron Lapp, 30 year old father of 4, from New York, (formerly of New Jersey), who recently donated a kidney to a mother of 2 from Israel! This match was made with another kidney donor, who had asked me to find a donor for this woman. I had posted for her in a Jewish internet group and Aaron responded! Transplant took place at Montefiore Medical Center, in New York.
from New York, last March. Judith was referred to me by Lori Palatnik, another kidney donor, who's kidney match I had made! Judith did so well, thank G-d, was released from the hospital the next day! Surgery was held at New York Presbytarian hospital-Columbia, in New York. Transplant was filmed for a major TV network documentary. Congratulations to Liba Bracha of Israel- formerly of the USA, on her kidney donation to a stranger, last February! She donated a kidney to a father of 7. Transplant took place at Beilinson hospital in Israel. Liba Bracha contacted me that she wanted to donate a kidney, after seeing a posting I had in a Jewish Yahoo Group. Liba means beloved and Bracha means, blessing! She is a very beloved person and a blessing to society! She certainly lives up to her name! Thank you to Feigie Morgenstern of New York who spoke on a radio program about kidney donation, on behalf of someone in desperate need of a kidney. I asked her to speak instead of me, as I knew she would do a greater job, which she did! She was a 57 year old mother of 6 when she donated a kidney to a stranger. And, her niece and brother-in-law also donated a kidney to a stranger! What a family! * * * *
swap?" Then ends up donating a kidney in the world's largest kidney swap, in which 16 people received a kidney! Patrick Duncan of Virginia, contacted me last July after seeing my Craigs List posting for Flora, a Virginia woman who needed a kidney. Flora had very high antibodies and was very difficult to find a match for. I had asked him if he wasn't a match for her, if he can be in a swap for her at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC - one of the hospitals that Flora was registered with. Anyhow, at that time, he didn't know anything about kidney swaps, and asked me back then, "What exactly is a kidney swap and what does it entail?" I explained to him in depth what it meant and Patrick got very interested in swaps based on the info I gave him. Anyhow, so he joined the swap that would increase Flora's chances in getting a kidney as she was difficult to match, and swaps are the way to go with people who are so difficult to match up.
both hospitals had a swap for Flora. John Hopkins was the first hospital that contacted Flora that a match was found. Another donor I had in a swap for her at John Hopkins, Sean Mackiewicz, ended up donating a kidney to someone else in the swap, so she can get a kidney! And so I told Patrick that Flora got a kidney from someone at John Hopkins and being that I asked Patrick to be in a swap for Flora at Georgetown University Hospital, he went ahead and donated a kidney in their swap anyhow, which ended up being part of a swap in which 16 people got a kidney! Way to go, Patrick! There was a great article written about his kidney swap. To read the article, "Surgeons Swap 32 Kidneys in Largest Ever Transplant in the U.S.", click here. To watch his fantastic NBC interview, click here. Sean Mackiewicz of North Dakota who donated a kidney in a swap!
years old, and works in the oil fields, and is from North Dakota (formerly of Colorado) and had contacted me years ago as a result of Craigs List posting I had seeking kidney donors. I asked Sean to test for Flora, but he was not a match for her, but agreed to be in a swap for her that would increase her chances in getting a kidney. He stood by her all these years waiting for a swap to come along! He is an amazing! Anyhow, so he donated a kidney last week at John Hopkins which was part of a kidney chain that started last June. He was the 7th person to donate a kidney in the chain! And because of Sean's kidney donation last week, an 8th person received a kidney, as part of the chain! Sean is doing very well an went back to work 9 days after his kidney donation! To watch Sean's interview "Williston Man Donates A Kidney", that was on KXNET (CBS-TV, N. Dakota), click here. To read the article version of this story, click here. 900 people show up to hear a Kidney Donor speak about her kidney donation!
donation. 900 people showed up to hear her speak! Wow! Great! Not many people can get a crowd like that! Chaya Masin, Mother of 4 from Florida, donated a kidney to a father of 2!
the name Chaya, means life-giving! Chaya Masin, a mother of 4 from Florida donated a kidney to Gabriel, a father of 2 from Jerusalem. The kidney transplant took place in the USA. Chaya first contacted me when her friend was in need of a kidney. She wasn't the right blood type, but wanted to donate to someone else instead. Chaya and her recipient are doing great, thank G-d! Another life, saved! Hello, Melbourne!
group seeking a donor for a mother of 4 children, who is on dialysis. New country I am happy to assist with in finding a donor! This potential donor finnished all her required medical tests, but, don't know yet if she is a match. The person she was going to donate a kidney to,, became ill and not sure yet she can have a transplant. * * * *
There are many people out there who have wanted to donate a kidney, but because of the extensive medical testing one has to do prior to donating a kidney, people have been ruled out from donating a kidney because they found out they had a medical issue they didn't know about prior. So donating a kidney can result in one's own life being saved! In this story though, this woman found out she had a tumor the size of a golf ball, behind her kidney. Doctors were able to remove it and she still was able to donate a kidney! But had she not offered to donate a kidney, she may have never found out about it! Someone once told me about a young man who was tested to donate a kidney to someone, and he found out from one of the tests he had cancer! The cancer was removed as a result. He was no longer able to donate a kidney, but if he didn't offer to test for someone in need of a kidney, he may have not found out until much later on which could have been too late! Chaya Ben Baruch, mother of 10 from Tsfat (Safed), Israel, donated a kidney to a father of 3!
kidney last August to a father of 3 from Israel! Someone in Israel who knows Chaya, saw my posting in Israel for someone in need of a kidney and told her about it! She is an extraordinary person. She has one biological child with Down's Syndrome and adopted 3 more Down's Syndrome children abandoned at birth! She has also launched an organization in Israel called Birkat Haderech to encourage women either to keep their Down's babies, or she helps them find the babies a loving home. The organization keeps a list of families prepared to foster Down's babies, and contacts them when there is a baby in need of a home. Amazing! What a great mitzvah! Her transplant took place at Beilinson Medical Center in Israel. To read her story, click here Tirtza Rosenthal of Monsey, NY donated a kidney to father of a young child!
hospital, last year. Tirtza go in touch with me after seeing a posting I had in Yahoo group for someone in need of a kidney. The man she donated a kidney to, is hoping that he would now be able to have more children, as he hasn't been able to when he was on dialysis! Tirtza met the person she donated a kidney to, for the first time when they both came out after surgery! Tom O'Driscoll, of Houston Texas, donated a kidney to Carolyn B., a radio producer of Los Angeles last year n Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. Tom contacted me that he wanted to donate a kidney, after hearing me on ''This American Life'' on NPR. My thanks to Amanda Nathan, a kidney recipient from San Antonio, Texas who accompanied Tom to Los Angeles for his kidney donation, so she can assist him during his stay at the hospital! And Amanda also arranged for Tom to stay with her relatives in Los Angeles for his recuperation! Wow! Amanda you are awesome!!! Thank you so much! Carolyn's new kidney is working great, thank G-d! Maggie Ervin kidney donation, started a kidney chain!
people got a kidney as a result! Maggie had contacted me after hearing me on ''This American Life'' on NPR and had wanted to donate a kidney. We met when she first came to New York, and she is awesome! So humble and so sweet! Anyhow, since she took a full time job she decided to donate locally and walked into a hospital and ended up starting a kidney chain! Wow! To see a video of this amazing person and read about her kidney donation, ''How This American Life, Saved A Life'', click here
kidney as well! And Shmuel, made that kidney match as well! * Congratulations to Rabbi Ephraim Simon, a father of 9 and kidney donor - who spoke at an event in Toronto on behalf of people who need of a kidney, which resulted in 20 people coming forward to be tested for people in need of a kidney! Wow! * * * *
People attend blood drives and bone marrow drives, because they want to save lives! So I figured it may be worth going to talk to people about kidney donation as well! If you or a loved one is in need of a kidney, and does not have anyone to donate a kidney to them, it may pay to go to a community blood drive or bone marrow drive and talk to people about kidney donation.
HBO. * I have also been contacted by a producer for a Evening News program of a major TV network , wanting to know about people who are in need a kidney for an upcoming 2 part TV news story they are working on which will be aired sometime in the near future. I have put people in need of a kidney in touch with the producer, One of them I spoke to was filmed for this TV program. I sure hope people will come forward to test for her and others as a result of this program! Check here in the future for more details about this program.
have a date yet.) I was filmed meeting my kidney match for the first time! The donor was from out of town and the recipient, from my city, and none of us had ever met before this filming! * * * * * A special thank you to Dr. Jonathan Winston, nephrologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY for inviting me to a very fascinating symposium on the organ shortage. Dr. Winston was program chair and moderator at this event which was organized by the Kidney & Urology Foundation of America. I met New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg a while ago and I mentioned to him about something needs to be done about the kidney shortage in New York. I handed him a letter about my ideas for incentives to get more people to donate a kidney. Yes, the kidney shortage is not just a New York problem, but a major problem in every city in the USA. And because of some of Mayor Bloomberg's past reforms, New York has served as a role model for other cities and countries throughout the world! So if something is done here in New York to get more people to donate a kidney to prevent more people from dying, whatever program he would come up with, that could help alleviate the kidney shortage not just in New York but perhaps in other cities in the USA as well! Over 7,000 people are waiting for a kidney in NY alone. * * * *
"The Kidney Foundation is working with Congress to pass laws that would implement parts of the "End the Wait" program, including a bill that would give donors of any life-saving organ a tax credit of up to $5,000 for costs related to the transplant." - this quote according to a story on NewsChannel 8, ABC-TV, Arlington VA., titled "Group Proposes Organ Donors To Be Compensated." For more information, also check out the 2nd half of an article on the National Kidney Foundation website, titled, "Social Connection Far Outweighs Compensation in Motivating Kidney Donors."
Congratulations to:
kidney! He is a car service driver and years ago spoke to this woman who was a passenger at the time, about kidney donation. And she contacted David after her kidney donation recently, and said it was because of him she donated a kidney to a stranger! He often speaks to his passengers about kidney donation and others have been inspired and will hopefully others will donate a kidney as well. Wow! And all the other kidney donors who have done so much like, Moshe M. - a father of 10 from Brooklyn, NY who donated a kidney to a stranger about 4 years ago, also made his 2nd kidney match! Another kidney donor, Shmuel W. of Lakewood, NJ, was a young father of 2 kids, when he donated a kidney, has made numerous kidney matches as well. And Lori Palatnik, of Silver Spring, Maryland who is a mother of 5 and who also donated a kidney to a stranger, is a public speaker and has encouraged people as well to donate a kidney. Wow! This doesn't surprise me! All of us kidney donors feel it was no big deal to donate a kidney and want to do so much more! And some have!
a mother of 12! Chaya L. had seen my posting in a Yahoo group about this mother of 12 who needed a kidney. Donor and recipient are doing very well, thank G-d! I had made her kidney match.
match. Leah had found out about me through a posting I had for kidney donors that was forwarded to her,and asked me to match her up with someone in need of a kidney, which I was happy to do!
was in need of a kidney and contacted me that she had wanted to donate a kidney. This flyer was in a printing store in Flatbush, Brooklyn, That was an old flyer, and that person had already had a kidney transplant. Leah ended up donating a kidney to someone else (not through me). She was supposed to donate a kidney years ago to her mother - but her mother had died before she was able to donate a kidney to her. G-d bless Leah for doing a wonderful thing in her mother's memory.
kidney and she was found not to be a match. She has since been in touch with the Maine Medical Center and together with the New England Paired Kidney Exchange a match was found for her! Awesome! * Karen Glover, of Boston, Massachussets donated a kidney to a stranger! Karen heard me on "This American Life" on NPR and contacted me that she had wanted to donate a kidney. I had matched her up with someone, but she was not a match. She had then decided to just walk into her local hospital and donate a kidney to anyone who needed one! Wow! Anyhow, I spoke to Karen since her kidney donation and she and the person she donated a kidney to, are doing great! She met her kidney recipient for the first time, 2 days after she donated a kidney to him! Karen, way to go! So proud of you!!! *Rabbi Ephraim Simon of Chabad Lubavitch, Teaneck, NJ donated a kidney to a stranger! Rabbi Simon is a father of 10, youngest child is only 2 years old. Rabbi Simon saw a posting I had in a Jewish Yahoo Group. He is awesome. Other times he had seen postings that I had for people who needed a kidney - he has said to me, "What about me?" He wanted to save the world! To read his story, click on "Local Rabbi Donates Kidney To Stranger." Also you can hear his radio interview on the "Donate A Kidney" page of this website - left hand side, towards bottom of the page. * Jordan Brough a father of a 1 year old boy donated a kidney and started a kidney chain! Jordan heard Chaya talk on "This American Life" and decided to walk into a hospital to donate a kidney to anyone! And that resulted in a 14 person kidney exchange!! Jordan first met his recipient 2 weeks after donating a kidney. Wow! (see his picture, left) For his story, click on, "The Chain Of Life: "Kidney Exchange Pools Doctors, Donors, Recipients." Must say a hearty thank you to his wife for allowing him to donate a kidney, despite having a young child! G-d bless you! And a great big thank you to all spouses out there who have allowed their spouse to donate a kidney! They are amazing!!! *Debbie Dunn of Utah, donated a kidney to a Stranger! Debbie contacted me about donating a kidney and I had matched her up with 2 people on my list who needed a kidney. She wasn't a match for either. Anyhow - she just walked into a hospital in Utah and decided to donate a kidney to anyone! Way to go! Debbie and the person who she donated a kidney to are doing great, thank G-d!
contacted that she wanted to donate a kidney after hearing me on "This American Life" on NPR, which was repeated on the air again, last January. Hospital: Mt. Sinai. (This match will be featured on a TV documentary and has been the subject of recent newspaper articles and on-line websites) BOTH NANCY & her recipient ANTHONY ARE DOING GREAT! Neither had any pain after their surgery! Nancy left the hospital only 1 day after her kidney donation! And Anthony is home as well. His new kidney, which is working great! Thank G-d, no more dialysis for him! Also, congratulations to Nancy on her new website! Check it out - "Kidney Mama: A Resource for Living Kidney Donors." Other news... England does not allow strangers to donate a kidney, unless they are wiling to donate a kidney to anyone at the hospital!. Someone in need of a kidney there can either have a family member or friend (and must prove you are a friend) donate a kidney to that person in need of one. So a total stranger there can only donate a kidney at a hospital where the hospital decides who would get your kidney. What if someone in the UK doesn't have a family member eligible or a friend willing to donate a kidney or can't do so for health reasons? That person in desperate need of a kidney can G-d forbid get worse on dialysis or die waiting for a kidney! The law in England needs to be changed to allow anyone to be able to donate a kidney to a stranger - to whomever they like, as is allowed here in the good old USA. See my latest interview regarding this critical situation, "Kidney Donation Law Must Change." * Great article: "What Prospective Kidney Donors Need to Know" Excellent, must read article for anyone considering kidney donation. Published in the New York Daily News. Click here for the article. * Check out great Kidney Donation article, "Chain of Life". Great three part multi-media series by Star Ledger- New Jersey. . Click here for one of the series of articles: From there, you can check out the others in the series on their website: www.nj.com. See also their great video, "Kidney Transplant Chain Helps Six Patients", on their website - or on the bottom of the "Websites-Kidney Donors" page.
written about 3 years ago about my kidney donation and project to help others, in an England newspaper - that article has been posted for the past 3 years on the main board of the Kidney Transplant Division of the Royal Free Hospital in London to encourage more kidney donation! * * * * There was an article on August 4th, 2009, on an ABC-TV website, titled "I Gave Away My Kidney" which was about a woman in Scotland who said she donated a kidney after hearing a radio appeal asking for live donors to part with a kidney. Hmm. I like this idea of a "Kidney Drive", as I interpreted it. If this can happen in Scotland - why not in the USA???!!!! Any ideas? UPDATE: I posted the above statement regarding this article and the idea of a Kidney Drive not long after the article came out last August 4th. I had also e-mailed this article with “Kidney Drive” on the subject line to an organization that I know and also e-mailed it that same day, to a kidney transplant coordinator and surgeon at a hospital I am very friendly with. Kind of e-mailed it as a hint. A kidney drive sounded like a nice idea. I didn't know though if this can actually be done. Anyhow, about 6 weeks later, this organization had their first kidney drive! Lives are being saved as a result. Great job! This organization is small, organization that does not want to be well known. Hopefully though, other organizations will follow. And not just organizations, how about places of worship? So this can be great for those who have a hard time finding a match, and in particular those who don't have family members to test for them or anyone eligible to be in a swap for them.
others to donate a kidney. The organization that had a kidney drive, last September, had posted also a Kidney Donors Honor Roll at their kidney drive, listing people in their community who have donated a kidney. For those who would consider doing a kidney drive, this a good idea, for others considering kidney donation, to see that others in their community have done so. More about Kidney Drive, ideas, click on the "Need A Kidney" tab. * * * * Someone told me about her husband in need of a kidney. Has numerous children. Looking though for a stranger to donate a kidney instead. I told the wife of the person in need of a kidney, that I can't help her husband. She needs to have children tested. After telling her this, I see a posting on the internet that she is looking for a kidney for her husband. This is not right! Someone else's child is ok to donate a kidney to her husband, but not her own child?? What is also outrageous, is that the hospital where her husband is registered with, does not care whether a person gets a kidney from a family member or stranger. They will accept a stranger, without questioning family members to test first. A coordinator at this hospital has said "We do not mandate that family be tested first......So even if they have children, it's ok for them to get a stranger" Oy!
donate a kidney to someone who has no family members who are not a match. And if someone who needs a kidney has a family member who is not a match - they should do a swap through their hospital. If their hospital doesn't have a swap program, they should switch to a hospital that does! The fact of the matter is, this particular person who doesn't want to have family members test, their hospital is connected with 2 swap/paired exchange programs. A hospital should first screen all family members of those in need of a kidney and encourage that family member to donate - and should only have strangers donate as a last resort, if family members are disqualified for medical or psychiatric reasons. Before any person considers donating a kidney to a stranger, they have the right to question that person who needs the kidney to find out if they have possibly any family members that can donate a kidney to them and question if there is a family member, why that family member cannot donate to the person who needs a kidney. One should reserve their kidney to donate it to someone who has no one in their family that is a possibility. There are plenty of such people out there that desperately need a kidney and have no family members that are a possiblity to donate a kidney to them.
com |


| What's new? See newsletter below, |
| Utah man donates a kidney, which resulted in a massive 14 person exchange! This Utah man,had decided to donate a kidney after hearing Chaya on "This American Life" on NPR. For more information about this great story, click on this article, from the Salt Lake City Tribune, click on this link in 2 parts: "The Chain of Life" |
| PLEASE HELP SAVE A LIFE!!! If you are any blood type, you can help save a life! Many of those are in desperate need! If you would like more info, check out the Donate A Kidney tab on this website, or click on the Contact Us tab. Thanks!!! |





| Congratulations to Maggie Erwin of San Francisco on her kidney donation that started a kidney chain! So far 3 people received a kidney because of her! Maggie donated a kidney after hearingChaya on This American Life, on NPR. |
| - Chaya's TV interview - "KIDNEY MATCHMAKER" For the video of this show, click here (Also, interviewed on this TV news program, is a kidey recipient from one of Chaya's kidney matches ) |
| Congratulations to: Dr. Devora Steinmetz, a mother of 8 from New York City on her kidney donation! (Chaya's latest kidney match) |
| * CONSIDERING DONATING A KIDNEY? * New great video with information on kidney donation! Click here for more info! |



| CONGRATULATIONS TO: Sean Mackiewicz of North Dakota, donated a kidney through a swap at John Hopkins, as a result of Chaya's posting on Craigs LIst! He went back to work 9 days later after donating a kidney! (See newsletter below for more details!) |





| Congratulations to Patrick Duncan of Virginia donated a kidneyj in the biggest kidney swap in which 16 people received a kidney! Patrick contacted Chaya before donated a kidney and she inspired him to join a kidney swap! (More info under "newsletter" below.) |



| 83 YEAR OLD MAN donated a kidney! For the article, click here |
| * Welcome! * |



| HUSBAND & WIFE DONATED A KIDNEY! For the story, of this amazing couple, click here (Note: This article was written before the husband donated his kidney) |



