"HE WHO SAVES ONE LIFE, IT'S AS IF HE SAVED THE ENTIRE WORLD" - Talmud Sanhedrin |
Chaya Lipschutz on the *ABC TV special * "Giving Life: The Story of Organ Donation" Philip Palmer, TV Anchorman talks about his kidney donation, Great program! (Program was aired in March 2008) DOUBLE CLICK ON VIDEO TO VIEW IN FULL SCREEN |
Chaya Lipschutz, Kidney Donor/Kidney Matchmaker "Health Hero" (PREVENTION MAGAZINE) Also received an award from Former Kings County (NY) District Attorney, Charles Hynes Photo receiving the award, click here |
This Website was mentioned in articles/news stories in Fox News 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 New York Post plus many other websites/news articles. |
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
- April Capone, former Mayor of East Haven, CT, donated a kidney to a stranger. Source of quote: www.cbsnews.com
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, former Adjunct Associate Professor of surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY. Source of quote: www.nydailynews.com
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"
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"
life, second only to the birth of my three wonderful sons." - Tirtza Rosenthal, who donated a kidney to a stranger "They (the hospital) did not prepare me for the joy that I felt after donating. It's been amazing. I would do it again if I could. " - Sophia Goode, who donated a kidney to a stranger, starting a kidney chain "Giving a kidney was no big deal...I've had dental treatment that was worse" - Paul Dixon, who donated a kidney to a stranger. "Liver donation, was a piece of cake!" - Yizchok Pinkesz, who donated part of his liver to a stranger
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 in December 2005, to educate the public about kidney donation. I have since made many other 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. And my nephew donated a kidney as well! For more information about myself click on the "About Chaya Lipschutz" tab Thanks for stopping by! Best wishes, Chaya Lipschutz Kidney Donor and Kidney & Liver Matchmaker
me, that I would end up living up to my name, saving lives! * * * * For those considering donating a kidney or part of their liver:
would be happy to share with anyone about 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."
part of a liver, as it is much riskier to donate part of one's liver. Also recuperation is a lot longer. There was a great an article about a woman who donated a kidney over 40 years ago, died at the age of 88 from pneumonia, "Pioneering Kidney Transplant Donor Dies At 88" Click here for the article.
and enjoy better quality of life than the general population.
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.
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.
already have a huge list of people, many of them in a very desperate need and unfortunately can't help mostly all since I don't often 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! If you e-mail me and I don't respond on time, please forgive me. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I wish I can help all, but unfortunately can't as, it's still very hard to get kidney donors despite all the publicity I get. Most of the time I post for others who need a kidney, but, unfortunately, most of the time, I don't get responses. 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 one should try to get friends, acquaintances, etc. And if someone wants to donate a kidney and is not your blood type, best 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 * * * *
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 married her boyfriend who donated a kidney to her! Congratulations!!! * * * * HELP SAVE A LIFE! Mother of 2 in desperate need of a life-saving kidney. If you would like to help save the life of this wonderful mom, 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! So please feel free to contact me to help save a life.) 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 March - April
HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE MY LATEST KIDNEY MATCH - as a result of Craigs List! Betty Dermartini, a mother of 3 from Lauderhill, Florida, donated a kidney to Vivian 3 from Miami. Transplant took place at Jackson Memorial Hospital on January 2nd. Betty contacted me as a result of my Craigs List posting. She was going to donate a kidney to her aunt, but then her aunt, unfortunately passed away So was looking for someone else to donate a kidney to - and the rest is history! Betty and her recipient first met when they were filmed for an ABC-TV Miami news story. To watch this great news story - click here Great story on my kidney match last October!! Vicki O'Neill Haber - 40 year old mother of 2, from Denver Colorado, donated a kidney to Rachel, a 34 year old woman from a suburb of Denver. Transplant took place at the University of Colorado Medical Center on October 16th. I had reached out to a Rabbi in Denver, asking if he can help spread the word about Rachel needing a kidney. And so this Rabbi and his wife posted on their Facebook page and Vicki saw the posting and contaced me to donate a kidney. Both Vicki and her recipient weren't planning to meet - but both ended up at the same temple for Rosh Hashanah, and the Vicki saw her recipients name tag and said upon seeing her recipient for the first time, she said, "OMG are you Rachel?" You are going to take my kidney"! They hugged and cried. Coincidentally, Vicki's close friend happens to be a cousin to her kidney recipient! They are both from Southern California. Both are teachers. They found they both have so much in common! Vicki was interviewed on Facebook a day before her kidney donation. To hear the great interview Vicki did the day before her surgery, click here. To hear the great interview Vicki did after her kidney donation - cick here Kidney match last July: Rabbi Avroham Hoffman, 63 year old father of 9, teacher, former principal, EMT and Rabbi of a congregation, from New York CIty, donated a kidney to Berta Ilizarova, a 62 year old mother of 2 from Queens, NY. Transplant took place at New York Presbytarian-Cornel on July 25th. Rabbi Hoffman contacted me as a result of reading about me in an article. To watch a TV news story about this match that was on Fox News, NY - click here. To read about this match in the New York Daily News, click here. To read more stories about this kidney match - go to the "About Chaya Lipschutz" tab and see listings of stories on matches. For more information on Rabbi Hoffman, click here. Another kidney match last April: Kerry Greene a 45 year old mother of 4 from Atlanta, GA, donated a kidney to Mindy - a 34 year old woman from Marrietta, GA. Transplant took place at Piedmont hospital in Atlanta on April 21st. Kerry contacted me that she wanted to donate a kidney, after reading an article about me. Happy to share good news!
of 5, donated a kidney to someone close to us in December of 2015. He was 38 years old at the time. He became the 3rd famlily member to donate a kidney! First, I donated in 2005, then my brother donated to someone on my listi in 2007, and now my nephew! My nephew offered to donate. So proud of him!
NY, donated part of his liver to a mother of 4 from Monsey NY. Transplant took place on July 14th at New York Presbytarian- Columbia. .Liver donation is very risky - much more riskier then kidney donation. A brave young man he is! The hospital where he donated part of his liver, told me that this will be the first liver match in between 2 adult strangers in their state! Yitzchok first contacted me 5 years ago to donate a kidney, but was turned down, because he had one pelvic kidney, In his 2nd attempt to save a life, he succeeded! Yitzchok, grew up in New York, moved to Wisconsin, in 2013. Both Yitzchok and his kidney recipient are doing great, thank G-d! For more information on liver donation, check out the New York Presbytarian website. For the link to their website, click here. A newspaper story was written about this match,in a weekly newspaper, The Jewish Press. Story was title, "Giving While Living: Liver Donation Saves Monsey Mom".To read the story, click here. To watch his great TV interview that was on a CBS-TV affiliate, , "Madison Man Donates Organ in Historic Surgery" - click here.
NY donated a kidney to Jerry Fox, 68 year old father of 3 and former public teacher from Brooklyn, NY. Margery had contacted me that she wanted to donate a kidney, after finding me on a search on the internet. Transplant took place at New York Presbytarian - Cornell on September 17th. A story about this kidney match was in the New York Post and on CBS TV News. For the New York.Post article,"This Woman Is Donating Her Kidney To Save A Complete Stranger’s Life" click here For CBS TV News story, "Upstate Woman Saves Brooklyn Man’s Life With Kidney", click here The NY Post story was also covered by Fox News.Only 2 weeks after Margery's kidney donation - she told me she felt 98% back to herself! That is so great! MY KIDNEY MATCH, saves life of former NY Councilman! Michael Tobman, a 41 year old father of 2, from Brooklyn, NY, his kidney to a former NY Councilman, Lew Fidler, also from Brooklyn. Unlike my previous kidney matches, in which donors donated a kidney to a complete stranger - Michael knew Mr. Fidler, but decided to donate a kidney to him as a result of a TV interview I did with Mr. Fidler about his needing a kidney,. which I had posted on Mr. Fidler's Facebook page. Michael didn't want to reveal himself to Mr. Fidler or anyone, until he was cleared to donate a kidney to him To view the TV interview I had with Mr. Fidler about his needing a kidney, click here To view the follow up TV news story announcing a donor has been found for Mr. Fidler, click here. THIS WEBSITE FEATURED ON TV NEWS! My website was years ago featured on a TV News station in Texas, however was no longer on their website and so never posted about this. Recently, I found a video of this TV news cast on my website, on an SD card in an old camcorder that wasn't working well and was going to discard.. I downloaded it recently to You Tube. To watch this news cast, on my website, click here:
hear this interview, titled, "It's a Match: The Good Deed Of Kidney Donations" - click here. Special thanks to the organization, TRIO, (Transplant Recipients International) for supplying FREE airline tickets for my donor to fly in for her medical testing and then again for her surgery!!! This great organizations website is www.trioweb.org
Monsey, NY who wrote a great book on kidney donation, titled, "The Kidney Donor's Journey: 100 Questions I Asked Before Donating My Kidney." The book is available on Amazon. To watch one of Ari's great TV interview on the book, click here. Ari had contacted me years ago, wanting to donate a kidney as a result of reading about me in a magazine called Jewish Action. Another kidney donor knew about a mom in Israel who was in need of a kidney and asked me to find a donor for that person. So I decided to asked Ari to donate a kidney to this woman. Transplant took place at Montefiore - New York.
donor from one of my kidney matches, will be interviewing people for her book on kidney donation. Anyone out there who donated a kidney, and would like to be interviewed for this book, or for those who received a kidney transplant from a living donor or deceased donor, please contact Bini at TeamMasin@yahoo.com.
Life": on NPR. My interview resulted in numerous lives being saved and still continued to save lives after all these years! First, last summer, Sophia Goode of Clinton, Washington, contacted me telling me that she donated a kidney and that she was inspired to do so, after hearing me on "This American Life!" She walked into her local hospital, started a kidney chain! The kidney chain she started, resulted in 4 lives being saved! I also had received an e-mail from MIke Koetting of a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota who told me that he was also inspired to donate a kidney after hearing me on this same radio program! He contacted the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, offering to donate a kidney and they matched him up with someone in need. He donated a kidney last December. And recently, weeks after donating a kidney, he ran about 13 miles in a Marathon! Wow! My gratitude to those involved with this NPR radio program for asking me to be on their show that helped save many lives!
TV KIDNEY MATCH that I was a part of that happened in June 2014.: My last TV interview: I was on PIX11 TV news based in New York City, on behalf of Torrey Green from Florida, who was about 7 years on dialysis and in desperate need of a kidney. One of the things I mentioned in my interview, that Torrey: "he is a special person and whom ever donates a kidney to him, will be lucky" Sara Toffelli, 43 years old, of Bound Brook, NJ is one of those who responded and donated a kidney to him! What a wonderful person she is! To watch this TV interview that Torrey and I were initially on when he was interviewed about his needing a kidney,October 2013, click here. And here is a follow-up story on this kidney match - with Torrey and his donor that aired in June 2014. Great story! Click here .
informed me that he donated a kidney because of this website! He had contacted me through Facebook, knowing that I was in Israel and said he wanted to thank me in person! I asked why? He said because he was inspired ot donate a kidney to a stranger because of this website! How cool is that! ( I was already back in the USA when he said he wanted to meet me in person to thank me.)
kidney recipient from a match I had made in Israel, was interviewed for The Jerusalem Post. I was mentioned in this article. For the article, "The Human Spirit: When One Good Deed Leads To Another" - click here. Personal Note: My beloved mother had passed away, in December 2012. We were so close. She was my best friend! A very special person, who did great Mitzvahs (good deeds) for decades. Since she passed away, I took upon myself my mother's Mitzvah project and since then, have not been able to do as much with my kidney donation project. I am sorry I won't be able to help most of the people who have contacted me who are in need of a kidney. If anyone out there would like to donate a kidney - will still be matching up when I can, so please contact me.
here. For the article I wrote about her in Yated Ne'eman, click here. HUSBAND AND WIFE both donated a kidney to a stranger!! First the wife - Baila Teitelbaum, 37 years old, from Brooklyn, (lives a few blocks from my house,) donated a kidney years ago, as a result of a flier I hung up a couple of blocks away at a fish store, seeking kidney donors. Then, her husband, Aaron, 43 years old, donated a kidney, too! (I had only made the wife's kidney match). What special people they are!
anonymous, donated a kidney in a kidney swap! He contacted me that he wanted to donate a kidney, as a result of a Jewish internet group. He was not a match for a man in Illinois whom I had him test for, but donated a kidney in a kidney swap through the National Kidney Registry. And in return, the person I had him test for and wasn't a match for, got a kidney from someone else in the swap! Swaps are the way to go for many who have a hard time finding a match! Transplant took place at New York Presbytarian- February 2013. Prior to that. I had another kidney match that happened, less than 2 months before. A man in his 50's, father of 3 from New Jersey, who had moved to Israel some years ago donated a kidney to Enid Wurtman, a 70 year old woman, who was from Philadelphia who had moved to Israel decades ago. There were many news stories about her in the USA and in Israel and she had at least 20 donors prior and none had worked out! Donor was a result of my posting for her in a Jewish internet group. Transplant took place at Beilinson in Israel last December. FACEBOOK KIDNEY MATCH! I had my first Facebook kidney match! Peter DelMasto, a 58 year old Special Ed teacher from Massachussets donated a kidney to a 71 year old man, as a result of a posting I had on one of my Facebook groups, for his recipient! Transplant took place at New York Presbytarian - Columbia November 2012 * * * *
York City, donated a kidney to a stranger in May 2012 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! She contacted me that she had wanted to donate a kidney after seeing a posting I had for the person she ended up donating a kidney to. ONE OF MY LATEST INTERNET INTERVIEWS: "The Kidney Matchmaker" - Interview by Chabad.org. For the article, click here. ONE OF MY LATEST TV INTERVIEWS: I was interviewed 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 2010 on News12, Brooklyn. Also interviewed, was as a kidney recipient from a kidney match I made. To watch this short interview, "Kidney Matchmaker" click here.
Congratulations to: Yifat Levin, a 36 year old nurse, mother of 3 from Atlanta, Georgia, donated a kidney to Lauren Gitelson, a mother of 3 from Stony Brook, NY. Transplant took place at New York Presbytarian-Cornell in January. Yifat contacted me that she wanted to donate a kidney after seeing a posting I had in a Jewish internet group! Yifat was the 2nd nurse that I had who donated a kidney!
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.
Congratulations to: Jessica Langer, a 40 year old SCIENTIST and mother of 3, from Highland Park, NJ, 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 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 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.
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! 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!
Patrick Duncan of Virginia, (a Veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq) had asked me "What is a 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.
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 donated a kidney in a kidney chain that resulted in the woman he tested for and wasn't a match for, got a kidney as a result! Sean was24 years old, at the time 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! He was the 7th person to donate a kidney in the chain! And because of Sean's kidney donation, 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.
up to hear her speak! Wow! Great! Not many people can get a crowd like that!
This was my 4th kidney match, in which the donor who donated a kidney had the name Chaya! Not surprising as 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!
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 of Jerusalem, (formerly of New York and then Alaska), a mother of 10 children, donated a 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 Mother of 3 from Monsey, NY donated a kidney to father of a young child from Israel! Tirtza, a mother of 3 from New York, donated a kidney to a father of a 5 year old from Jerusalem at Mt. Sinai hospital,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 at 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! San Francisco woman's kidney donation, ended up starting a kidney chain! Maggie of San Francisco, donated a kidney recently Her kidney donation started a kidney chain! 3 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 Shmuel Waldman of Lakewood, NJ, who donated a kidney, inspired his sister-in-law to donate a kidney as well! And Shmuel, made her kidney match! * Congratulations to one of my kidney donors, Rabbi Ephraim Simon, a father of 9 and kidney donor from Teaneck, NJ- 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!
* There were blood drives and bone marrow drives in my community and other areas of the city I live in. 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.
* * * * * 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 had met former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg a while ago when he was still Mayor, 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 former 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. * * * * Congratulations to:
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! H 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!
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.
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!
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.
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!!! * Nancy Murrell of Pittsburgh, PA, donated a kidney to a Stranger! I had made Nancy's kidney match. Nancy 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... * Someone from England who needed a kidney (received one from a cadaver) told me that a story that was 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! * * * * * 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. * * * * 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. Way back then I wrote, "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 in 2009. 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.
kidney. The organization that had their first kidney drive, 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!
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. For more info, feel free to contact Chaya - at KidneyMitzvah@aol.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" |
Mother of 2 young kids Desperately needs a kidney! She is on dialysis for almost 20 years! Please contact Chaya on the "contact us" tab on this website, to help save her life! |
LATEST KIDNEY MATCH! Another life saved - and as a result of Craigs List! Congratulations to: Betty Demartini, mother of 3, of Lauderhill, Florida! Chaya's latest kidney match! More info under Newsletter below. |
THIS WEBSITE FEATURED on the TV NEWS! For the video of this news story, click here |
* THIS WEBSITE SAVED A LIFE! * MosheSiegel 49 year old father of 4 from Beit Shemesh, Israel, contacted Chaya Lipschutz, who runs this website. saying he donated a kidney because of this website! Isn't that great!!! |
* 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 one of the biggest kidney swaps 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 |
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) |
Chaya's TV Interiew, "Kidney Matchmaker" on News12, Brooklyn November 6, 2010 |
This website was featured on ABC-TV affiliate KRGV, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, April 26 2009 |
"Unique Website!" Dr. Katrina A Bramstedt - Author of "The Organ Donor Experience"p |