“They go above and beyond every single time, and they don’t stop until things are taken care of.”
In 2000, after a visit to his primary care physician and a series of tests for what began as unusually high blood pressure, Ed Reuter, 40 years-old at the time, learned his kidneys were failing.
“I let it go for a week or two,” he recalls. “Then I finally went in, they ran tests, and right off the bat, they knew what it was.” Without hesitation, Ed turned to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, now Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC), known to him as simply “the place to go.”
What could have been a long and uncertain journey took a remarkably different path.
Under the care of Martin G. Jacobs, MD, a nephrologist and pioneer in the field of dialysis and kidney transplant, the process moved quickly. Soon, a solution that kept Ed from having to go on dialysis, came from within his own family. After extensive testing and completing the comprehensive process to become a living-donor, his younger brother proved to be a perfect match.
During the evaluation process, Ed remembers one question that stood out, with an answer that defines the bond they had. “They asked him why he wanted to give me his kidney,” Ed shares. “And he said, because he needs it. That was it. They didn’t need to ask anything else.”
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Ed’s transplant journey reflects that same simplicity and certainty.
“The transplant was just as seamless. It was honestly uneventful, but in the best way. Everything went exactly how you’d hope it would,” he says.
Some of Ed’s most meaningful memories came in the days that followed the surgeries, recovering side by side with his brother.
“We were actually in rooms right near each other,” he recalls. “What could have been a quiet recovery became something that wasn’t. Instead, we found ourselves laughing, joking, and even competing, bringing a sense of normalcy to the setting.”
In addition, Ed’s care team also made a lasting impression. “The nurses were so thoughtful and caring it didn’t even feel like a hospital stay,” he shares. “They were calm, took care of everything, and they just made us so comfortable the whole time.”
That sense of connection has continued for decades.
Today, Ed is under the care of Anup M. Patel, MD, a transplant nephrologist, and Director of Transplant Research for the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, alongside longtime team members, Colleen Dowling, RN, and Dianne Duva, RN, both of who have been a part of his journey since the very beginning.
Whether it’s managing medications, navigating insurance, or simply answering a quick question, Ed knows he can rely on them. “They’ve been incredible,” he says. “Anything I need, they’re there. They go above and beyond every single time, and they don’t stop until things are taken care of.”
At the time of his transplant, Ed was told that reaching the 15-year mark would be a major success. He surpassed that, reached 20, and now, 26 years later, he continues to exceed every expectation. “It’s pretty amazing,” he says. “You don’t expect it in the beginning, but here I am, 26 years later, still going strong.”
“When Ed received his transplant, 15 years was considered a strong outcome. To see him doing so well 26 years later is remarkable. His story highlights how far transplant care has come, and what is possible when everything aligns,” explains Dr. Patel.
Through it all, he’s never experienced any complications. “I’ve never had an issue. Not once,” he shares.
After retiring this past July, following a 25-year career in IT with the Newark Public School System, Ed is now embracing a slower pace of life, one centered around family, especially his grandchildren.
“Being that I’m retired and my kidney is still so healthy, I am now free to do whatever I want,” he says. “I can do more things and not have to worry. I finally have the time to just be present. I really enjoy spending time with my grandkids.”
Looking back on his journey, Ed carries a deep sense of gratitude, not only for this health, but for the people who made it possible.
About The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.
The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division, located in Livingston, NJ, is one of the leading kidney transplant centers in the country. The Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center offers compassionate and comprehensive transplant care for adult and pediatric kidney patients.
The Living Donor Institute at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center offers an increasing number of innovative living donation techniques available at only a few of the world’s leading transplant centers.
With a patient-centered approach, we aim to provide a caring environment with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment capabilities. Our multidisciplinary transplant team guides patients through the process of deciding on kidney transplant as a treatment option, understanding transplantation, finding a donor, and maintaining a healthy organ after transplant.