Woman Saved By Miracle Kidney Donation After Brother's Campaign

HAUPPAUGE, NY - A Hauppauge woman in need of a kidney transplant finally found a match following a social media campaign started by her brother.

In April, after Anthony DeLorenzo realized he was not a match to donate his kidney to his sister Jaclyn Maltaghati, he started the Facebook page "Sister in Need of Kidney" to find someone who can.

On Wednesday, DeLorenzo announced on the page that Maltaghati finally found her donor.

"We are beyond grateful to share the wonderful news that Jaclyn has found a match," he wrote. "One of her dear friends found out yesterday that he is a definite match and will be donating his kidney to her this summer."

Maltaghati was diagnosed at the age of 6 in 1990 with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) or chronic kidney disease.

As a result she had to have her right kidney removed and at the age of 10, Maltaghati's left kidney began to fail and she had to begin what turned out to be a long journey on dialysis.

Unfortunately, both parents weren't a match for her and DeLorenzo was too young at the time to get tested, so Maltaghati waited on the kidney transplant list for over 7 years. Because her blood type is B positive, which is rare, it makes it a bit harder to receive a match in a short period of time.

"Given her circumstances, Jaclyn remained strong, positive, and in turn persevered on and made it her goal to have as normal a life as she could, especially during her teenage years," DeLorenzo said. "Upon finding out about her illness, many were in shock because it never showed on Jaclyn's face. She always faced every day with a smile and positive outlook.

She received a kidney from a cadaveric donor in 2000, but the kidney started to fail and thus began the journey to help find a new donor.

This inspired DeLorenzo to start the page, which quickly started receiving several hundred "Likes" in just a few short days.

"We will continue to share Jaclyn's journey on this page, as we feel it is of vast importance to keep spreading the word of organ donation and how it can change lives," DeLorenzo wrote on the page. "In addition, we would like to take this time to thank all of you for your well wishes, support, prayers, kind words, and willingness to get tested. There really are some good hearted people out there."

Photo: Facebook.com/Sister in Need of Kidney