Thinking About Being a Living Donor? Here’s What You Need to Know

You don’t have to die to donate an organ, but you could still save someone’s life. Find out more about being a living donor at Weill Cornell Medicine.

When Kidney Disease Runs in the Family

About 18 years ago, when Kathy Stankus was in her mid-30s, she learned that she had a rare kidney disease caused by a genetic mutation. “It’s likely that my mother and grandmother had the same thing,” she says. Sadly, both of them died of renal failure.

A Young Family Man Is Thriving After a Second Kidney Transplant

David Barresi describes 2022 as one of the most fateful years of his life. In June, he found out that his wife was pregnant with the couple’s first child. Then, in August, he learned that his previous kidney transplant was failing. Soon, he’d need a second transplant. How, he wondered, would he be able to prepare for fatherhood, given the challenges of finding a donor, undergoing transplant surgery and recovering from the procedure?

What to Know About Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD)

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a rare genetic disorder that causes normal liver tissue to be replaced by fluid-filled liver cysts. Liver cysts are actually pretty common, but their true prevalence is unknown, as they tend to be asymptomatic, says Dr. Danielle Brandman, Medical Director of the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Doing Good Feels Good: The Journey of an Altruistic Kidney Donor

Annie Hoffnung—a wife, mother, and chief human resources officer at a public relations firm—donated a kidney to a stranger on February 28, 2023. Considered an “altruistic donor,” she belongs to a small group of organ donors who care so much about the welfare of others that they’re willing to take significant time out of their lives and undergo surgery to save the life of someone they don’t know.

Infographic: Give Life As An Organ Donor

February 14th is National Donor Day. Take the day to learn more about becoming an organ donor.

His Brother's Gift of a Healthy Kidney

At just 29 years old, Kevin Montello’s kidneys began to fail after many years of living with kidney disease. Thankfully, with tremendous support from his family, many of whom were tested to see if they might be a match, he didn’t have to look far for a donor.

Receiving a Kidney Donation From a Dear Friend

The COVID-19 pandemic was not enough to derail a kidney transplant for Kerry Lang, 26. Though her original surgery date for Kerry and her donor and dear friend, Annie was April 9, she didn’t have to wait long for the next opportunity.

Receiving a Kidney Transplant During COVID-19

Despite the COVID-19 placing roadblocks in the path of his kidney transplant, Rahat Bhatti, 33, recalls a positive transplant experience at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine.

How His Aunt's Living Kidney Donation Saved His Life

How does a patient obtain a kidney transplant when he lives in New York, his live donor resides in India, and a pandemic and visa deadlines add complex layers to the transplant process? He takes the recommendations from friends and coworkers to contact the Adult Kidney Transplantation program at Weill Cornell Medicine to learn more about the transplant process.

David Cartwright's Kidney Transplant Journey Through COVID-19

David Cartwright’s eight-year journey to his kidney transplant caused him to require dialysis, the process by which waste, salt and extra water are removed from the body by machine, since the kidneys can no longer perform this function. But this timing landed David in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Gift: Donating a Kidney to a Stranger

Her chances of finding a match for a kidney transplant were 1 in 100. Here’s how a stranger helped her defy the odds — and how both their lives irrevocably changed.

Welcoming Baby Scarlett During COVID-19

Navigating pregnancy and childbirth for the first time is challenging enough. The backdrop of COVID-19 makes it downright adventurous. Fortunately for Jordan Harman and Annabelle Evans, they’re no strangers to adventure, medical or otherwise.

Living Donation a Family Affair for One Couple

Living donation is a family affair for Brian and his wife Evette, who each donated a kidney to twin sons Alan and Brian.

Overview of Living Kidney Donation

Sometimes, information overload occurs when you are considering becoming a live kidney donor for someone in need. An overview of our program can help answer any questions you may have.

Innovative Kidney Exchange Program Touches Multiple Lives, Generations

On Valentine's Day 2008, Evan received a kidney as part of the National Kidney Registry's first "transplant chain." Learn more about how this program changed Evan's life.

Bride Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Kidney Transplant

For Dorothy Shelley, who was diagnosed with kidney disease as a child, a kidney transplant was life-changing. On the 30th anniversary of her transplant, she reflected on opportunities it gave her.

NY Med: Rita and Anthony

Rita, a vivacious mother and businesswoman, is shocked to find her kidneys are failing. With 100,000 people on the transplant waitlist, her chances are not good. But there may be an angel closer to Rita than she realizes.