Woman Desperately Seeking Kidney For Her Sister

NEWTOWN, CT-- Heather Enright Strid is desperately seeking a live kidney donor for her sister who is in Stage 4 kidney failure.

Stacey Enright Gee, 42, of Newtown, has had kidney disease for 15 years. Doctors are seeking a living donor to avoid dialysis. Strid said that a living donor kidney has twice the lifespan compared to the lifespan of a deceased donor kidney.

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Strid posted her plea for a new kidney on a number of social media sites and with the hope that someone will share her story to find a match for her sister. According to Transplant Pro, there are more than 122,000 people waiting for transplants and the demand for organs far exceeds the supply.

Donating a kidney is a minimally invasive procedure for the donor, Strid explained, and the procedure is done laparoscopically with three incisions, two days in the hospital and two to three weeks of recovery time. There are no expenses incurred by the donor.

This is not the first hardship for Gee. Strid said that in 2003 her sister sustained multiple near fatal injuries from a work related accident involving a van.

"She was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital where they gave her a 10 percent chance of making it through the night. She lost 75 percent of her blood due to a severed liver, but through the grace of God, a staff of skilled surgeons, doctors and nurses and many many prayers she miraculously pulled through."

Gee has worked with people with disabilities for the last 16 years and "loves to give of herself to helping people."

"Your gift of a kidney will save the life of a very special person."

For more information call Yale New Haven Hospital at 1-888-894-6361. All inquiries will be kept confidential. Click here to learn more.