Organ Donor Meets Eight-year-old Recipient for First Time

WAER | Syracuse Public Radio | Scott Willis & Jason Chen

Kidney donor, Kelli Maher, meets with eight-year-old recipient, Cecilia Brown Friday at the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. Brown was diagnosed with Stage III renal failure at the age of five.
CREDIT JASON CHEN/WAER NEWS

Kelli Maher has never thought she would able to do this while she’s alive.

On the Friday before Christmas at the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, she met with a eight-year-old girl who’s survived because of her help.

Maher donated her kidney to Cecilia Brown, who was diagnosed with Stage III renal failure at the age of five.

“The power to save somebody’s life is incredible,” Maher said with tears in her eyes. “It’s the true meaning of Christmas right here.”

A mother of three, Maher said she has a young family member diagnosed with cancer. As a registered organ donor, she says she can’t stop helping others.

“I did know that I could not go to bed at night knowing that somebody was sitting at the dinner table waiting for a phone call,” Maher said. “I can’t imagine looking at my daughter across the table and wondering how long it is going to be before she is healthy again.” Continue reading

from Donate Life Organ and Tissue Donation Blog℠ http://ift.tt/2imxJFt