The Craigslist ad was short and to the point: “Please Help Us, My Dad Needs a Kidney!” Jennifer Flood, 30, and her sisters (her twin Cynthia and older sibling Heather, 32) posted the message on Craigslist in a desperate attempt to find a someone willing to make the ultimate sacrifice: donate a kidney to a complete stranger without asking anything in return.
That ad launched a chain of events that eventually led the Pleasantville, N.Y.-based family to find such a person—a 48-year-old California woman named Dawn Verdick—who was willing to donate a kidney to their father, Daniel Flood, 68. The kidney transplant took place December 12, and the family is beyond grateful.
The journey was incredible, but it was also difficult, Flood says, and Craigslist isn’t the easiest way to find an unrelated organ donor. But there are plenty of people trying to do the same on the free online network, including patients in New Jersey, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and other areas.
“We’re not recommending people to post ads on Craigslist, just because there’s a lot of loopholes, a lot of scammers. If you’re not skilled at sifting through tons of information, it’s not going to work for you,” says Flood. She called the experience an “emotionally draining, physically draining journey.”
Next: 17 people in U.S. die every day waiting for a donor organ
Comments (21)
The generosity of live organ donors is wonderful. It’s a shame we need so many live organ donors. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year.
There is another good way to put a big dent in the organ shortage — if you don’t agree to donate your organs when you die, then you go to the back of the waiting list if you ever need an organ to live.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. About 50% of the organs transplanted in the United States go to people who haven’t agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at http://www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.
Dave:
Your “solution” to the organ allocation is coercing people to donate their organs. They have a right to not have to donate theirs even though they get an organ. This is an ethical issue that I do not believe you’ve thought all the way through. There’s a reason WHY forced organ donation after death to be able to be on the transplant list is not implemented today, it’s because it’s unethical and there is a whole area of the medical profession that sit around and deal with things like this daily.
While it does seem like a good idea, you simply cannot force people to have the same views as you. Try going into their shoes and think why they would not want to donate, and don’t just go to “they are selfish” try to get past that initial thought and actually think it through.
According to federal law (Final Rule 1998), deceased donor organs MUST be allocated based on medical need, period. While a donor may direct their organs to an “individual” according to UAGA 1968 & 2006, it does not permit organs to be left to a group or members of a group. The reason Lifesharers is still allowed to exist is because no member has died and donated their organs, so a legal challenge has not been made.
There is nothing preventing any member of Lifesharers from obtaining a needed organ and then rescinding their pledge to donate their organs upon death. He wants preferential treatment for people simply ‘promising’ to do something they cannot be forced to do.
Educate yourself – http://www.livingdonor101.com
Congratulations, my brother gave my mom his kidney 15 years ago. She was 48 at the time. She has no difficulties throughout the 15 years. You don’t realize how sick they really are until they get that kidney. Best of luck!!!!!
Why didn’t the daughters donate a kidney???
They’re no a match to their father.
Patricia:
Read the article. They weren’t able to donate a kidney. I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with their decision, but you condemned without reading the whole article. That’s not helpful.
My Dad is celebrating his 17th year with his donated heart. The gift that people give of organ donation goes above and beyond what should be expected of someone. Because of their unselfish decision, my Dad has been there to give me away at my wedding, to enjoy the birth of his first grandchild and to remain the backbone of our family. God Bless all who choose to donate their organs. We are eternally grateful to our donor family!!!
This article is somewhat helpful….for I also in need of a kidney……..sooner than I expect so the doctor says!!!!!!!
great article…only those that have been there would understand. I am going to check out Craigslist. Thank you for your information.
I think this was wonderful and courageous of them to think of such a unique idea. My son is 23 and is in need of a kidney as well and we just found out today that our donor is unable to give us his, there were medical conditions in the ct scan that prevented it. good luck to you and god bless………..
im looking for someone to donate a kidney im 29m and have no kidneys they are 100 percent gone, my insurance covers everything for both partys of a transplant and anything it didnt cover i would so it works out for everyone its the least anyone could do for another person that is saving another persons life
Shoot, I would donate a kidney to someone if it would mean I could get a full medical checkup. I am one of the unfortunate ones without insurance and no way to get any preventative care. Giving a kidney to help someone who needs one would also maybe help me get the basic care I need and can’t afford.
As a daughter who was unable to donate a kidney to her father, I know exactly what those three women felt. If you are serious about donated a kidney TXMom. Google a transplant center in your area! They would leap at the chance I am sure. All you have to do is call! And, it’s not just a kidney you can donate. I believe you can also donate a portion of your liver. I am not sure on that but they can help you.
If you have insurance, your insurance will pay for your transplant costs AND the costs of the donor as well.
Too bad that about one in six Americans have NO health insurance—that’s just absurd!!
Kidney transplant recipient, found my donor via Craigslist.
Thank you Craig and my donor and your family!!
The site in California to sign up to be an organ donor at death is
http://www.donatelifecalifornia.org
PLEASE–tell your friends about it.
Why don’t ALL states have this?
I found my kidney donor more than four years ago on Craigslist.
Thank you Craig, and my thanks of course as well to my donor and his family.
He was required to take a psychiatric exam before giving me his spare kidney (you ALL have two and only need one). If he’d wanted to donate a fortune to the hospital, they’d have taken the money without a psychiatric evaluation. Why did he need one to do a good deed??
Also, the rules in America barring paying for an organ are absurd.
If someone buys an organ, they are off the list–giving everyone else a quicker chance to get their organ!!!
What’s the difference between giving to a charity and giving money to a person who wants–or needs–money? I give to my local homeless people, and that’s fine. Why should there be a felony if you want to buy a kidney? What about free market and free will?
Hello after reading about the Flood sisters and how they used craigs list to find their dad a doner for his kidney transplant my faith was restored. You see my partner Bruce of 12 years has kidney failure and is in need of a transplant. He has type “O” blood and of course all the expenses would be paid. If you have ever thought about donating the gift of life contact me Mary at Mehalena@aol.com
If lack of insurance is your problem please read this article about a government program to help people with kidney problems. I do not know if this will help but perhaps it will. http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/09/28/kidney_disease/index.html
hi
my name is Yasir malik,i wanna donate my kidney for him,i am 21 years old boy belongs to sub contineltal.tell me if u neeed , i will donate ,thanks ,contect me on my email adress
ravianicon_@hotmail.com
still need a kidney. im male 33. blood o+. good health. email. hermawanpurnomo76@yahoo.co.id
just send me an email.thanks
A good and useful post! It provides valuable information on this topic. Craigslistpages is an information portal to various services on Craigslist.