Newspaper ad finds kidney donor

CNN ^

[spetznaz]

MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) -- A 5-year-old received a kidney Friday from a donor who answered a newspaper ad placed by the girl's mother.

Angela Rushford and the donor were in stable condition Friday at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, a hospital spokeswoman said. Doctors expect the two to remain hospitalized for a week to 10 days.

"I owe David Harper a lot," Angela's father, Tony Rushford, said shortly after the surgery. "When I was a kid, my hero was Spider-Man. Now it's David Harper."

Angela has polycystic renal failure, a condition doctors say is usually seen in older people. Harper, 38, of Mount Morris, Illinois, responded to an ad her mother placed in the Rock River Times. The ad offered money, but Harper declined.

"In the beginning I wasn't set on doing it," Harper said before the surgery. "Nothing could change my mind now."

He said his faith prompted him to help: "I'm just trying to relate what Christ would do."

[spetznaz]

This is so heartwarming, especially when you consider the guy refused any payment from the family. That is so amazing, especially when you consider that for the family to put an ad in the paper they must have reached the apex of unabated desperation. The donor is truly a God send.

Now if someother gracious capable person could meet the financial needs of the family (they are about to get kicked out of their house, the dad got laid off, and they hope that social security will pay the medical expenses).

[spetznaz]

ping!

[Faith]

May God reward David Harper for his faithfulness and may the little girl's life be restored. Thanks for the post.

[BigBadBrian]

Amen.

[Faith]

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for placing the love of Jesus Christ in David Harper and for helping him to respond to the needs of this little child. We ask You to heal Angela and David as they recover from their surgeries, and help them to know the pure joy of walking in good health once again. May Your Name be glorified as people all over the nation read about this wonderful example of Christ's love, in whose Name we pray. Amen.

[Snoopers-868th]

I think this is really nice but I was under the impression this was somehow illegal. That if an organ were available it had to be placed in the pool. What am I missing? Since when can we sell our organs?

[BigBadBrian]

The article said "The ad offered money, but Harper declined."

You're right, it is illegal to sell your organs, but Harper didn't take any money.

Directed donations (saying who you want to give it to), as long as immune system compatibility exists, are allowed and legal.

I'm familiar with the protocol - I've dealt with it before.

[Snoopers-868th]

O.K. so I finally found out how Mickey Mantle got a liver so fast.

However, the ad offered payment. How does anyone know payment did not take place? How and who would be the regulator or investigative unit to be able to say the organ donation process and donors/recipients are in compliance.

I think this screams of selling organs even being able to donate to a specific party. I guess I thought the most ill received and were placed in a line within regions.

I appreciate the information.

[Snoopers-868th]

I need to clarify my impression. I did think that family could give other family organs but once outside of that context the organ was placed in line to be received by whomever and disclosure to recipient was unknown.