Kidney Recipient Meets Match, Urge Others to Donate
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: July 4, 2012
The identities of organ donors are typically kept confidential but one Lima man wanted to meet the woman who helped save his life.
Jim Hayton and Donna Germano had no connection until December 2011.
A kidney transplant between strangers.
"I knew I wanted to donate, I knew what I did, but I didn't know the extent of what it meant it was going to mean to him to actually receive a kidney and have a change of life," said Donna Germano, organ donor.
Donna Germano works in a dialysis office in a Syracuse suburb and wanted to help a patient.
She wasn't a match for that person, but was a perfect match for jim.
The 55-year old was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1999.
Jim went through years of dialysis and was on a long donor wait list.
"She is an amazing woman, she said she would give another if she had three, I don't know how you describe somebody like that" Jim Hayton, organ recipient.
Strong Hospital does about 80 to 90 kidney transplants every year.
The surgeons say they are amazed by those who give the gift of life.
"These are the unsung heroes," said Dr. Carlos Marroquin, Donna's surgeon.
Donna and Jim met in April and they say they had an instant connection.
They have particpated in kidney walks together since then and say they plan to be lifelong friends.
Both are urging others to get tested to find out if they are a donor for someone.
If you would like to become a kidney donor or find out more information, click here.
