Moorestown Resident Describes Kidney Donation as an "Opportunity"

Moorestown resident Chris Spirgel describes a process many people may find scary or be reluctant to participate in as an “opportunity.”

Earlier this year, she donated a kidney to Moorestown Councilman Greg Newcomer.

Newcomer has had kidney disease since he was 38, he said in a Letter to the Editor to Moorestown Patch last week. Last year, he was faced with a decision: get a kidney transplant or go on dialysis.

“I’ve been blessed with good health,” the 52-year-old Spirgel said. “Greg gave me the opportunity to share that gift.”

It was an opportunity she didn’t hesitate to take.

After Newcomer told members of their congregation at Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill following a service that “things weren’t good,” Spirgel took the opportunity to help her friend of 12 years.

“I knew he had health issues and they were kidney related,” Spirgel said.

“I asked if he needed a kidney because I have an extra one.”

After the compatibility testing and further testing to ensure it was safe for Spirgel, she donated her “extra” kidney to Newcomer.

“There are risks associated with it like any other surgery, so it’s not a decision to be taken lightly,” said Spirgel, a self-employed statistical consultant who’s married with three children. “I have a lot of confidence in my medical team and I decided it was the right thing to do.”

Spirgel learned that donating a kidney is easier than she expected.

“You just have to be compatible. These anti-rejection drugs they have now are so effective, you don’t have to be a match,” Spirgel said.

Her husband, Keith, 52, and her three sons supported her decision.

The surgery took place at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on April 30, one month before Spirgel’s birthday.

It’s been about six weeks since the surgery, and Spirgel is nearly completely recovered. Doctors told her her life will be no different, outside a limited number of medications she’s not permitted to take.

Newcomer has recovered as well, and was in attendance at Monday night’s council meeting.

They saw each other the night of the surgery when Spirgel walked by Newcomer’s room and Newcomer blew her a kiss.

She was also touched by Newcomer’s letter that thanked her that was published on Moorestown Patch last week.

“He’s a wonderful man and he has such a lovely family,” Spirgel said. “I’m thrilled he’s doing so well.”

Spirgel has been a resident of Moorestown for 12 years. She was born near Cleveland, Ohio. She earned an undergraduate degree in statistics at Ohio State University and a graduate degree in engineering at Northwestern. Her youngest son graduates from Moorestown High School next week, and as of next year, she’ll have two sons attending Penn State.

For more on the anti-rejection drugs associated with kidney transplant surgery, click here.

The attached image of Greg Newcomer and Chris Sprigel was provided by Greg Newcomer