Imagine donating a kidney to a loved one in desperate need of a transplant. For many people, the decision would be a relatively easy one if it meant the gift of life for a family member or close friend.
Now imagine making that same gift to a complete stranger.
For Long Island Supreme Court Justice Emily Pines the decision to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger in need has proven to be a blessing for her as well as for the recipient. On August 14, 2002, Judge Pines became one of Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s first cases of altruistic donation, in which the donor is not a relative or close friend of the recipient. She donated her kidney to the adult son of a colleague.
"I want to let people know that organ donation has tremendous rewards for everyone involved," says Judge Pines, who originally asked that her donation not be publicized.
"I would absolutely do it again."
| Judge Pines says the process toward kidney donation began with an article she read about two men who met in church. One of the men suffered from end-stage renal disease and needed a kidney, and the other individual offered one of his organs.Both donor and recipient were a medical match and the transplant was performed.
"It was a very inspiring story," recalls Judge Pines. "They talked a great deal about the desperate need for donors and how difficult it is to find willing living donors because of the prejudices about organ donation." Later in life, Judge Pines had begun to expand her Jewish education and had her bat mitzvah as an adult. As part of her education, she says, the concept of giving was stressed. When involved in an act of giving, the act itself is a blessing that touches both giver and recipient.
During her study of Judaism, Judge Pines decided that she needed to find an act of giving to be performed in thanks for a bountiful life filled with "a great marriage, three great kids, and success in my career beyond my wildest dreams."
When she came upon a colleague who was distraught that his diabetic son was experiencing both kidney and pancreas failure, a light went on in her head. She would be the kidney donor. Despite understandable scepticism from her family, Judge Pines approached Saint Barnabas about the donation.
She was found to be a match and, after much support and discussion with staff at The Martin G. Jacobs, M.D., Transplant Institute at Saint Barnabas and her family, the operation was performed.
"Judge Pines was among the first at Saint Barnabas to participate in altruistic donation and she has paved the way for many individuals," says Shamkant Mulgaonkar, M.D., Chief of the Saint Barnabas Renal Transplant Centers.
"Today, living kidney donation in all forms is exceeding donation from those who are deceased. The living perpetuate the gift of life."
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The recipient, attorney Kevin Oliver, whose need for a kidney stemmed from his
Type 1 diabetes, was told the typical wait for kidney transplantation is five to seven years, but the veins in one forearm had collapsed from dialysis, reducing the already limited number of vein sites.
His need for a kidney had become more critical.
Although Judge Pines told Mr. Oliver during their one meeting before the operation that the donation was as much for herself as for him, he sees something else.
"When I look in her eyes I see real generosity," says Mr. Oliver. "I am grateful."
Judge Pines, who recovered quickly from the operation, was pleased to hear that Mr. Oliver recently received a pancreas transplant.
"Saint Barnabas was wonderful and the procedure was relatively simple," says Judge Pines. "I was on a mission and completely determined to do it. The gift was my reward."
