Janet Weber & Lynn Arnold Kidney Transplant

Janet Kroboth-Weber and Lynn Arnold, long-time friends of 17 years (with Aquarian birthdays just days apart), never dreamed a living-donor kidney transplant would be the newest chapter connecting them. A shared sense of purpose in serving others has filled both of their busy lives with eldercare, special needs advocacy, sponsoring students from war-torn regions, teaching, social justice, indigenous rights, animal rescue, volunteerism and protection of the environment. Despite a healthy, athletic lifestyle, Janet became seriously ill after losing many key family members in a few short years (both parents, spouse, closest cousins, two sister-in-laws, niece...), then had emergency surgery for dialysis (a time-consuming, exhausting treatment three days a week). That was almost four years ago. Lynn stepped forward and got tested to be a living kidney donor, and was a match for Janet! This deep personal sacrifice reflects Lynn’s conviction about Janet (an interfaith minister), needing to continue doing work in the world, for communities and the planet. Donating her kidney will extend Janet’s life by many years. Surgery is January 7th,  2020!

For a challenging period after, both women will need time to heal and myriad assistance—monetary and otherwise. Janet’s recovery will be more intensive with expensive medications and many restrictions for several months. Lynn’s recovery is shorter, but she’ll need to move with extra care for some weeks thereafter. Janet explained, “Among all the things Lynn does, she is a farmer’s market vendor and has to move big crates. She’ll be out of work for a while and will need help to cover bills. But she’s so humble about it. When I told her we would try and raise money through crowdfunding, she set her goal low; she never asks for anything.” Lynn isn’t the only humble one. Janet had to be coaxed to raise her goal too. They will both need extra support from their community near and far, to cover any unforeseen bills while worklife is suspended during recovery.

Why a kidney transplant? Why offer support?
“Lynn and I have an incredible love and admiration for each other as spiritual sisters, and as women.” Lynn’s selfless sense of sacrifice will extend Janet’s life. Let’s all help them by showing our love and support and generosity!

Ways You Can Help:
● donate to this campaign
● help with meals, groceries, household tasks, drive to follow-up medical appointments, run errands
● Become an organ donor! Currently 110,000 people are on waiting lists for transplants, 650,000 people on dialysis (extremely hard on the body). Waitlists are 4-7 years and patients often die while waiting for a match.
●Send prayers of love and positivity! Trust the outcome! We invite prayers to be inspired expressions of gratitude that reflect your confidence in the universe and the Creator. “Thank you for an amazing medical team! Thank you for bringing comfort. Thank you for helping my friends to heal quickly. Thank you for giving them this opportunity for deepest healing.” Our prayers are already on their way!
● Write letters to your legislators to help push forward a bill in New York to insure that living organ donors get a lifetime of free health insurance for their incredible generosity:

—Proposal from Transplant Surgeon: Health insurance for living donors
https://asts.org/docs/default-source/position-statements/proposal---health-insurance-as-incentive-for-living-kidney-donation-february-6-2009.pdf?sfvrsn=7ec5b39e_4

—NY State Senator Skoufis Proposes Bill Providing Lifetime Health Care For Kidney Donors (posted 11/8/19)
Re: health insurance & living organ donors.
Subject: James Skoufis | NY State Senate
(contact senator, recommend making this retroactive!)
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-skoufis/contact 

A bill proposed by Sen. James Skoufis would provide kidney donors should be provided with lifetime health care. The move is meant to bolster health care for those who donate kidneys and aid the 8,000 people who are waiting for a transplant. Only 347 people have served as live kidney donors through the first 10 months of the year in New York.

“People are dying every day waiting for a kidney transplant, and New York’s waitlist for kidney donations is the third longest in the country,” Skoufis said. “There is a disproportionately low number of people who are live kidney donors and overwhelming demand for donations in our state. Clearly, additional, reasonable incentives are required to encourage people to make such an altruistic sacrifice. People who are selfless enough to donate a kidney should be provided with the peace of mind that they will never have to worry about health insurance.”

The legislation would be funded through a newly created Kidney Donor Insurance Fund. The proposal has the backing of kidney donors-turned-advocates. “Every living organ donor should receive the best health care money can buy,” said Josh Morrison, a donor and founder of the advocacy group Waitlist Zero. “We as a society are obligated to do everything we can to ensure each donor’s amazing generosity does not leave them worse off. Great health care starts with great health insurance, and Senator Skoufis has taken an important step in honoring donors’ service by introducing this legislation. As a kidney donor, he and other legislators supporting this bill have my deepest gratitude.”

——For inspiring videos on donors and recipients——-
Saint Barnabas Transplant Center page:
https://www.rwjbh.org/landing-pages/kidney-transplant/