“Living donors’ selfless gift not only saves lives, it transforms entire families, offering hope where there once was uncertainty. Their courage reminds us of the incredible power of human connection and compassion,” said Dr. Patel.
Marcio Medeiros of Cranford, NJ, and Elizabeth Zushma of Kinnelon, NJ, were in need of a kidney transplant and their family members answered their call by becoming living donors. Unfortunately, Marcio’s wife Patricia, and Elizabeth’s sister-in-law Chrisann Palmieri weren’t direct matches for their own family members. Through the The Living Donor Institute at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, they were matched with each other respectively.
Five years after their life-changing kidney transplants, the four remarkable individuals, two living donors and two recipients, gathered together for the first time to celebrate their journeys. Laughter, hugs, and heartfelt stories filled the room as they finally met in person, their lives forever intertwined by the gift of life.
About Their Transplant Journeys
Elizabeth’s journey started when kidney issues surfaced while she was pregnant, and though doctors initially said she might recover on her own, things took a turn years later. “They called me at work and said, ‘You’re not fine, you need to go to the hospital. You’re in kidney failure,’” she recalled.
After a week in the hospital and a brief glimmer of false hope, the search for a donor began. “I was on the deceased donor list for over a year,” Elizabeth said. “It can be an eight or nine year wait. I even went on the hepatitis-positive list just to try to speed things up.”
Anup M. Patel, MD, transplant nephrologist, and Director of Transplant Research, Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, explained, “Living donation does not just lead to shorter wait times, but also better outcomes, making it one of the most effective paths to successful transplantation.”
It was Elizabeth’s sister-in-law, Chrisann, who ultimately stepped forward and offered to donate her kidney.
“She knew early on she would do it,” Elizabeth said smiling. “After a few people didn’t match, she got on the phone herself and pushed things forward. From her first test in September to surgery in October, it moved fast.”
“I didn’t tell many people,” Chrisann added. “I didn’t want their opinions. It just felt right.”
The second couple’s journey began with uncertainty. Marcio had Alport syndrome, a genetic kidney disease that slowly worsened over time. “My numbers were going down, and my doctor said dialysis was the next step,” he explained.
Marcio began at-home dialysis, three days a week, six months straight. His wife was there every step of the way. “I even learned how to run the machine,” his wife, Patricia, shared.
At first, Patricia was reluctant to be a donor. “I kept thinking, I have three boys, what if they need it one day since Alport syndrome can be genetic?” But then a doctor said something that changed her perspective. “By the time your kids would possibly need a kidney, you may not even be eligible to donate anymore.”
“It was like a light went on,” she said. “I realized, what am I waiting for? I’m healthy now. Why wouldn’t I do this for my husband?” So she did.
All four praised their care teams and Dr. Patel. Marcio shared, “I come back every year for follow-ups. It’s like a five-star hotel.”
“From the first step into the hospital at reception, everyone was amazing,” expressed Patricia. “When our children visited us during surgery, they were scared, but the nurses reassured them. It meant everything,” she said.
Post-operative care stood out, too. “The entire 5700 floor was amazing and great,” said Elizabeth. “One nurse, Precious, literally carried me back to my room when I couldn’t walk back after visiting Elizabeth,” shared Chrisann.
Why Living Donation Matters?
“Living donors’ selfless gift not only saves lives, it transforms entire families, offering hope where there once was uncertainty. Their courage reminds us of the incredible power of human connection and compassion,” said Dr. Patel.
Chrisann shared, “I wouldn’t be here without a living donor. My grandmother donated to my mother in 1971. My mother lost her kidney to a strep infection, and went on dialysis at 15-years-old. My mom then ended up needing an additional transplant after having kidney failure after being pregnant, and my uncle donated to her. It’s been a three-generation thing which is cool.”
“I felt like I had a reason to be on this planet, and knowing my nephew needed his mom, I didn’t want him to not have her, I had to give him a chance to have her because I was given a chance to have my mom,” said Chrisann.
“This process is very personable,” Elizabeth continued. “I’ve known my sister-in-law since she was a teen, but this is a whole new level of connection. And meeting the other couple today, it’s a whole level of being connected.”
Patricia added, “It gives you purpose of why you are here, it’s a gift. You aren’t born saying ‘I’m going to give an organ to somebody,’ it’s a way to give a gift without thinking about what you are going to get in return.” “You become more patient with each other,” Marcio said. “More understanding. More grateful.”
- Learn more about becoming a living donor.
- 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.