NEW YORK ORGAN DONOR NETWORK IS PLEASED TO PLAY ITS PART IN THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL LIVE KIDNEY DONATION; AND SAYS IT HOPES THE ANONYMOUS LIVING DONOR INSPIRES OTHERS TO BECOME DECEASED DONORS

New York, NY August 4, 2008 -The New York Organ Donor Network, in a statement released this afternoon, says the organ procurement organization was pleased to play a part in the first-ever New York to Los Angeles Living Donor Transplant Chain, which was announced today at a joint news conference at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The agency also said that it hoped the generosity of the living donors, including an anonymous donor, would inspire people across the United States to decide to donate organs, eyes and tissues at the time of their death.

The Donor Network’s role in the carefully orchestrated surgeries on July 24 and 30 was to organize the transportation of a kidney in one of the first transcontinental live kidney donations. It also assisted in the preservation of the kidney. The entire chain was only made possible through the generosity of an altruistic kidney donor from New York City, who wishes to remain anonymous. As a result of this person’s donation, a resident of Cypress, Calif., Pamela Heckathorn, received a kidney. Pamela was to have received a kidney from her cousin Dave Busk, but he turned out to be incompatible with her.

At the news conference, a statement was read that had been written by the anonymous altruistic donor. The donor wrote: “I have had the incredibly sad experience of having a colleague die while waiting for a kidney transplant. I have a close friend, who donated a kidney to her brother, and I have a close friend who received a kidney more than a decade ago – and I see the terrific experiences she’s had since.

“When I started thinking about it, I thought, ‘I’m able and healthy at this point in my life to do this—to help someone have more years of a better life—why not donate?’”

When Pamela received her kidney from New York, her cousin Dave decided to continue the chain of giving. His kidney went to Maricela Carjaval of Fillmore, Calif., whose husband Arturo’s wish to be her donor were thwarted when he was found to be incompatible with her. The third part of the chain was completed when Inocenta Platt received a kidney from Arturo. Now, Inocenta’s son Randy, who couldn’t donate to her, will be the “bridge” to initiate another cluster and more transplants on August 18.

The Donor Network’s director of communications, Julia Rivera, said: “We thank all of the donors for making this historic transplant chain possible. And we are delighted that we could lend support to our colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center as well as the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.”

Ms. Rivera pointed out that more than 76,000 patients are waiting for kidneys in the United States. Of those waiting, approximately 5,500 are in the greater New York metropolitan area. “The average waiting time for those on the kidney waiting list is from five to seven years,” Ms. Rivera said.

“It is our hope that people across the United States will be so inspired by the gift of a kidney by this hero, this anonymous donor. If one living donor can accomplish this—the saving of three lives all at once—consider the impact of one deceased organ donor who can save up to eight lives, and save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating eyes and tissues such as bone, skin and heart valves.”

Ms. Rivera added that most states now donor registries by which people can legally designate themselves as donors upon their death. In New York, individuals can document their decision to become donors by enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry. They can do so on the Donor Network’s website, www.donatelifeny.org.

For more information, contact: Martin Woolf, 646-291-4460 or mwoolf@nyodn.org