Verona Strong, the community group that has supported several Verona residents through life-threatening health situations, is alerting the community to another Veronan in need.
Sue Hedden Miranda, a lifelong resident of Verona, has stage five chronic kidney disease. The ideal and best treatment is a kidney transplant. While that could come from a deceased donor, the wait for one is five to seven years. An alternative is a living donor, and becoming a living donor is easier than you might think. We all have two kidneys and can function with one.
Living kidney donors don’t need to be blood relatives of the person who needs the kidney. You’ll need to be evaluated by the transplant center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center’s Kidney Transplant Center, which can be reached at [email protected] or 973-322-5346. All donor medical costs are fully covered by the recipient’s insurance. Calling for information and education and completing a donor questionnaire does not obligate you in any way.
Sue’s daughter, Carey Mirenda Matzkanin, is also available to talk to potential donors. You can reach her at 973-464-8656 or [email protected].
“Any support you can offer to her, no matter how big or small is appreciated,” Carey Mirenda Matzkanin says. “If Mom can get a kidney transplant from a family member, friend or any kind and compassionate person, it would paramount for her health and longevity. We realize that donating a kidney is a very personal decision that requires not only education about the risks and benefits, but also thoughtful consideration and the support of loved ones. Please open your mind and heart and truly think and reflect on the situation and the role you might want to play.”
This would not be the first time that a Verona resident has been a living kidney donor. MyVeronaNJ.com told Sarah Ford’s donation story in 2018 and you can read it here.
