We’d like to spotlight a Miller Tanner Associates team member for her extraordinary act of kindness – one that qualifies as a special badge of honor. This week, Anne Weiland, an accounting associate at MTA, will become a kidney donor to someone she’s never met. This generous decision stems from a compassionate desire to transform someone’s life. As Anne embarks on this journey, her story is an inspiring reminder of the power of human generosity.
Last Thanksgiving, Anne took a serendipitous journey through the woods with fellow hikers, two of whom shared their personal stories as kidney donors. This left a meaningful impression which ultimately led Anne on another journey – down the path of donorship. She began researching more about kidney donation; and after talking to other donors and exploring the option further, she determined that she wanted to pursue the opportunity to donate to a non-designated recipient.
While most organ donations come from friends or family members, Anne felt moved to make a difference in the life of a non-designated recipient, highlighting the profound impact one individual can have on another’s survival and well-being. Another source of motivation for Anne was the chance to assist when she had previously been unable to do so in a different situation. “I had a brother and a sister who both passed away and [given their respective health circumstances] I wasn’t able to help. This was an opportunity where I could do something to help someone through organ donation.”
Although Anne’s surgery and her donor recipient’s transplant will take place on the same day, in the same hospital, on different floors, she isn’t sure if she’ll have the opportunity to meet the recipient in person. While a decision like this can have many emotions, Anne feels happy for her female recipient. “Imagine how her life will change,” she shared. On average, a kidney from a live donor can last 10 years longer than a kidney from a deceased donor, resulting in more promising outcomes for the donor recipient.
As of March 2024, there are over 89,000 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list. Each year, only around 400 individuals donate to non-designated recipients. If a person chooses to be one of these non-direct donors, the donor has the potential to initiate a chain. “Even if you aren’t a match for someone you know, donating to a non-designated recipient allows you to create a longer chain, possibly impacting more than just a single life,” shared Anne.
“If anyone is interested, I’d be happy to share and answer questions about how to become a donor. So many people are on dialysis or have kidney issues, and many people will never receive a kidney donation. If I can raise awareness through my experience, I’m happy to do it.”
For more information about becoming a kidney donor, you can visit https://www.kidneyregistry.com.
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