The living donor kidney transplant care team at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas has witnessed the power of a life-saving gift over a thousand times. However, the perfect living donor match may not always live close to home.
That was the case for Bindu Samuel, of Coimbatore, India, who flew halfway around the globe to help her brother, Biji Thomas, of Carrollton. When Samuel arrived in the United States in November 2018, Thomas' kidneys were performing at 10 percent of their normal function – the result of a rare kidney disease known as IgA nephropathy, or Berger's disease. The living donor kidney transplant surgery occurred at Baylor University Medical Center in December, and the siblings were able to enjoy the holiday season together at Thomas' home.
"The amazing thing about living donation is that anyone from anywhere in the world can help save someone's life,"said Giuliano Testa, MD, MBA, FACS, chief of abdominal transplant for the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute at Baylor University Medical Center. "Individuals who decide to donate really provide an impact to those in need. It is a great display of love and compassion."
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 110,000 people are waiting for a live-saving organ transplant. For some, a living donor kidney transplant is the fastest way to receive a kidney transplant.
While donating a kidney to someone in need is a big decision, knowing the process can be the start of saving a life. For more information about Baylor University Medical Center's transplant services, visit BSWHealth.com/DallasTransplant
For more information on becoming a living organ donor, visit
livingdonordallas.org
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com