“I wasn’t just another patient, but a person whose future mattered. I can dream again, plan again, and live again.”
At just 22 years old, Joey Dichiara has already endured more than most people experience in a lifetime. After a severe case of COVID-19 at age 17 led to multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), she spent weeks in the intensive care unit, fighting for her life.
The virus attacked multiple organs, including her heart and liver, which recovered, but it was her kidneys that took the hardest hit. “Before COVID, I never had any kidney issues,” Joey recalled. “When I woke up in the hospital, I didn’t understand what was happening. I just knew something was wrong.”
When Joey was finally stable enough to leave the hospital, her family faced the challenge of finding a nephrologist who could help navigate the uncertain future of Joey’s kidney health. Joey’s mom, Lisa, was determined to find answers, and reached out to Isabel Roberti, MD, Director of Pediatric Nephrology and Transplantation, at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC).
“Dr. Roberti was the first person to give us hope and direction,” said Lisa. “She got Joey in for a biopsy when other hospitals were still limiting access during COVID. She also was the one who told us the hard truth that Joey had chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a result of COVID and that she would likely need a transplant one day.”
At this time, Dr. Roberti arranged for Joey to be added to the kidney transplant waiting list at CBMC. “That call changed everything. It gave us time, and that time gave Joey a fighting chance,” Lisa shared.
For the next five years Joey did everything she could to preserve her kidney function by managing her diet, medications, and lifestyle. This, along with the close care of her nephrologist, Sandesh Jain, MD, allowed Joey to remain off dialysis for as long as possible. However, her kidney function continued to decline.
“Dr. Jain is the most caring and compassionate doctor in the world. He understood me when no one else did, and gave me hope when I had none. For that, he’s truly made a difference in my life. He showed me that even in life’s darkest moments, there is light, there is kindness, and there are second chances,” shared Joey.
By the summer of 2025, Joey’s kidney function had reached a critical point. She was getting ready to begin dialysis within weeks, when miraculously, she got the call a kidney was available.
When that moment came it brought fear and hope. “I was scared,” she admitted. “But the doctors at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center made me feel calm and cared for. It felt like they knew me before I even knew them.” On July 6, 2025, Joey received the “Gift of Life” from a deceased donor. “Though I never knew him, I do thank him for changing my life forever.”
“I’m also thankful to the entire transplant team at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for their dedication, skill, and constant support. Anup M. Patel, MD, Ryan Goldberg, MD, and Matthew G. Rosenzweig, DO, didn’t just treat me medically, they guided me through one of the hardest journeys of my life with compassion and encouragement,” shared Joey. “I always felt like I wasn’t just another patient, but a person whose future mattered. Because of them, I can dream again, plan again, and live again. I received the best medical care I could ever ask for.”
“Joey reminds us why we do what we do,” said Dr. Patel. “Her transplant came right in time, and seeing her healthy is the greatest reward. It’s a testament to her resilience, her family’s strength, and the dedication of our transplant team.”
Today, Joey is continuing her college education online while adjusting to her new routine and advocating for organ donation. She’s also supporting her father, who recently learned he is now in need of a kidney transplant himself.
“My story doesn’t end with me,” Joey shared. “Now watching my dad go through this reminds me why sharing my story is so important. I just want people to understand how much one donor can change a life.”
Learn more about the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center