My kidney donation surgery was performed on December 6, 2012 at the New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. The recipient was my brother-in-law. Today, over two years later, we are both issue free and my brother-in-law’s business has him traveling internationally.
At the time of surgery, my age made me the oldest surviving donor to have successfully completed donor surgery during the hospital’s past 50 years of kidney transplant history. I was 72 at the time of my kidney donation.
Today I have become an advocate for living kidney donation. I will make presentations at hospitals, clubs, churches and organizations … anywhere that people are willing to listen. With over 100,000 people on the kidney waiting list, more has to be done! That number grows larger each year while 13 people die daily waiting for the kidney call that never comes. Sadly, using the 2014 statistics from UNOS, living kidney donation is at its lowest level since the year 2000.
– Jeff States
Wow – 72 and rocking 1 kidney! Thanks for all you do to promote organ donation to save lives, Jeff! Rock on!
That is wonderful, Jeff. I donated as well anonomoysly a couple years ago and was the easiest surgery and recovery….. I wish all could know our stories to know how easy and safe it is:). Glad to know you are doing well and what a wonderful thing you did for your brother in law.
I know someone who needs one n I can only pray he get it.what you have done is a blessing,praise God
I agree more people need to be donors. I donated my kidney to my brother in law 3 months ago. I am 60 and I’m great. Need to get word out for sure!