Mo. Woman Donates Kidney to Stranger

[Guest guest]

Mo. Woman Donates Kidney to StrangerDecember 30, 2004, 9:22 AM ESTST. LOUIS -- Madolena Key was scheduled to donate a kidney to her husband in 2002 when a perfectly matched organ from a deceased donor became available. Just like that, Key's kidney wasn't needed -- until she thought about it for awhile. Key contacted Mid-America Transplant Services the following January and said she would like to donate her kidney anyway -- to someone else in need. Her husband's ordeal with kidney disease and dialysis had taught Key that 60,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant. "I thought 'why not do that for someone else?'" said Key, 43, a bank manager. On Wednesday, Key and the recipient of her kidney, , 37, met for the first time at -Jewish Hospital, where doctors performed the surgeries in November 2003. Key leaped from her chair to meet , and the women hugged and wept, exchanging greetings as they wiped away tears. "I've got a large family that's waiting to meet you," Key told , who has had diabetes since childhood. , who is studying to be a respiratory therapist, said her siblings also have diabetes and could not be donors. Key's gift to is one of only 263 in the country since the first such donation in 1998, according to the Richmond, Va.-based United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees the nation's organ procurement and transplantation network. Second Chance Saint Louis, Mid-America's living donor program, is one of only three programs in the country that screens and evaluates persons for altruistic organ donations. Second Chance has coordinated seven altruistic donations -- six kidney, one liver -- since it began in 2002, said Merry . Before a coordinating program was in place, offers from strangers often went unused. Living donor candidates must be in excellent health, undergo medical and psychological tests and other screenings. Key said the extensive screening made her confident her choice was the right decision.

[Guest guest]

This is SOOOOO wonderful!!!

Anne & Bobby Tinnell

Mo. Woman

Donates Kidney to Stranger

Mo. Woman Donates Kidney

to Stranger

December 30, 2004, 9:22 AM EST

ST. LOUIS -- Madolena Key was scheduled to donate a kidney to her

husband in 2002 when a perfectly matched organ from a deceased donor became

available. Just like that, Key's kidney wasn't needed -- until she thought

about it for awhile.

Key contacted Mid-America Transplant Services the following January and said

she would like to donate her kidney anyway -- to someone else in need. Her

husband's ordeal with kidney disease and dialysis had taught Key that 60,000

people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant.

" I thought 'why not do

that for someone else?' " said Key, 43, a bank manager.

On Wednesday, Key and the recipient of her kidney, , 37, met for

the first time at -Jewish Hospital, where doctors performed the surgeries

in November 2003. Key leaped from her chair to meet , and the women

hugged and wept, exchanging greetings as they wiped away tears.

" I've got a large family that's waiting to meet you, " Key told

, who has had diabetes since childhood.

, who is studying to be a respiratory therapist, said her siblings also

have diabetes and could not be donors.

Key's gift to is one of only 263 in the country since the first such

donation in 1998, according to the Richmond, Va.-based United Network for Organ

Sharing, which oversees the nation's organ procurement and transplantation

network.

Second Chance Saint Louis, Mid-America's living donor program, is one of only

three programs in the country that screens and evaluates persons for altruistic

organ donations.

Second Chance has coordinated seven altruistic donations -- six kidney, one

liver -- since it began in 2002, said Merry . Before a coordinating

program was in place, offers from strangers often went unused.

Living donor candidates must be in excellent health, undergo medical and

psychological tests and other screenings. Key said the extensive screening made

her confident her choice was the right decision.