Seaford Parents Donate Kidneys to Twin Sons

The Leavy family of Seaford spent their summer in an out-of-the-ordinary way. In July, Evette Leavy donated her kidney to her 14-year-old son Brian and incredibly, this was the second transplant the family dealt with. In March 2009, Evette's husband, Brian Leavy DeVale, donated his kidney to their son Alan, who is the teenage Brian's twin brother.

Alan and Brian were diagnosed at age five with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disease that leads to chronic kidney failure in more than half of the cases.  The Seaford parents thought the early diagnosis gave them time to prepare for the inevitability that their twin boys would need kidney transplants but when Alan's kidney function started to deteriorate last year, Evette realized that one can never truly be prepared.

"It came sooner than we expected," said Leavy of her family's plan being upended. "I was going to have the surgery first but I was eliminated as the donor because I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy with the twins."

Thankfully Leavy's husband Brian was able to step in. No sooner had Alan and his father undergone their successful transplant surgery when Brian's kidneys started to deteriorate. Evette panicked and worried that she would not be considered as a donor.

"I had to convince them I would be healthy, and they said they would tentatively consider me," she said. "I walked every day and ate healthy, and they kept to their word."

 Leavy said the experience has taught her that a lot of parents are not so lucky to be able to donate kidneys to their children since they are not always an automatic match and that is it is vital that more people sign up to become donors.

"It is so simple to sign up as a donor, yet it brings such joy and health to a family," said Mrs, Leavy. "Everyone should become an organ donor when they renew their driver's license. There is nothing to fear in registering, even as a live donor, but I understand that is too much for some to consider."

The night before her surgery at the Rogosin Institute in Manhattan, Evette said she "slept like a baby" because of the confidence in the medical care her and Brian were receiving. Leavy said she was also blessed both before and after the procedure with a supportive family and the many good wishes from the local community including the Seaford school district.

"The Seaford schools have been amazing," she said. "The boys still get cards from teachers they had in elementary school."

Both Brian and Alan, who be starting ninth grade at Seaford High School in early September, are apart of a local swim team but will need to avoid contact sports. This will be a far different experience than the twin-brother's 19-year old Erica, who played both soccer and softball.

Leavy said the family is now thinking positive and taking precautions that everyone should be doing anyway such as vigilant hand washing and careful eating. "It's incredible what you adjust to," she said. "Their immune systems are suppressed in order to keep the working kidneys; they will be on immunosuppressant and hypertension medication for the rest of their lives…But it is part of the package, and it is OK."