Five women share their or their family’s experience donating a kidney
WEwere serving as the Rav and Rebbetzin in Charleston, South Carolina, when Ari decided to research fascinating topics that would draw a crowd for Shavuos night learning. He decided to speak about contemporary medical ethics, focusing on organ donation and the question of whether donating an organ was permissible, forbidden, or encouraged. Ari shared with the community what a great mitzvah it was to donate a kidney. But returning home, he felt like a hypocrite, encouraging his community to do something he would never do.
Ari wrestled with the question of donating his kidney and invited me out for coffee to tell me he was interested in becoming a kidney donor. I think he expected me to yell — which is probably why he invited me to discuss it in a public place.
Much to Ari’s surprise, I was actually receptive. He was the one on the fence seeking my guidance. I reassured Ari that he didn’t need to make a final decision, as there were many steps between being interested in donating and actually undergoing the surgery. I suggested we take it step by step, and if it was bashert and he ended up being a match for someone, we could make the decision to cross the finish line at that time.
Ari reached out to Chaya Lipschutz of Kidney Mitzvah, and Matnat Chaim in Israel. With their guidance, he completed the testing process at Montefiore Hospital in New York. Simultaneously, we spoke to our morei derech, sought their input, and received brachos and spiritual support. I put in my hishtadlus by speaking to our health and life insurance companies to make sure our family would be protected in case chas v’shalom anything bad happened.
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