You don’t have to be dead to be an organ donor.
A South Florida couple is trying to spread the message about living kidney donation. They each have only one kidney after donating the other one to their siblings.
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“So my brother used to tell me you’re only as old as your youngest body part, so when he peed, he was 10 years younger,” Craig Blinderman said as his wife and sister-in-law laughed.
Three adults, with only three kidneys between them.
“You only need one to live,” said Ana Saruski, who received a kidney from her sister, Judy, who is Craig’s wife.
Saruski is correct, and the Blindermans are living proof.
How unusual is it to have a husband and wife who’ve each donated a kidney?
“Well, we haven’t met anybody yet who’s come out of the woodwork and said, hey, we’ve done that, too!” Craig Blinderman said.
He donated a kidney to his brother, Rick, 33 years ago.
“It was an incredible miracle that I had a chance to participate in, and I had the opportunity to see my brother be restored from being sick to being healthy,” Craig Blinderman said.
“This is immediately before the transplant,” Judy Blinderman said, pointing to a picture showing her and Saruski in separate stretchers, smiling as they’re about to be wheeled into the operating room at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
Judy Blinderman gave a kidney to her sister just two months ago.
“It is truly the best thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. I don’t know that I have the words to describe how it feels to know that my sister isn’t sick anymore,” she said.
How ill was Saruski before the transplant? She suffered from polycystic kidney disease, which left her in searing pain and constantly exhausted.
“I felt very sick, also very fatigued, as the kidney disease progressed and I reached what they call end-stage kidney failure,” she explained.
Saruski and Judy Blinderman were always close growing up, so Judy did not hesitate.
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“Like, everybody said to me, are you scared, are you nervous, I had no fear, and it’s because of Craig, because I have been living for 26-plus years with a person who was a live donor that has had a completely normal life,” Judy Blinderman said.
Rick Blinderman had 24 good years before he passed away, rising to partner in his law firm, raising children, and even becoming a grandfather.
“This reminds me of what the kidney transplant really represents,” Craig Blinderman said, showing us a painting made by his “Renaissance man” brother.
For Saruski, grateful doesn’t begin to describe her feelings for her “spare parts” sister. Judy Blinderman actually wore a hoodie with the phrase “Spare Parts” to the hospital for the transplant.
“I just think how miraculous it is that now I’m healthy and I can enjoy life again, I can cook for my family again, I’m going back to work on Monday, and I feel energized to go to work,” Saruski said. “I feel that she’s selfless. I think she’s a hero.”
“I don’t feel like a hero, and I don’t feel like I’m selfless,” Judy Blinderman responded. “I actually feel like I did this a little selfishly because I love my sister so much that the thought of her not being around killed me.”
Thanks to a profound gift, Judy Blinderman will have her sister around for years to come, and a husband who knows exactly how that feels.
So, how is life with one kidney? They can’t take some medications, and they have to stay hydrated and watch their protein intake, and there’s one more drawback.
“I can’t engage in contact sports, unfortunately, so there goes my NFL career,” Judy Blinderman said.
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