Division of Transplantation

Transplant Recipients International Organization dinner:

On Friday, November 9, 2007 TRIO Manhattan honored Dale Distant, MD, Director of Transplantation Services at SUNY Medical Center/University Hospital of Brooklyn at the Fourteenth Annual Dinner Dance. The Manhattan Chapter of Transplant Recipients International Organization also honored the Donor Family for 2007, Tom and Joanne Kasprzak. The TRIO Manhattan Recipient of the Year awards went to Glenda R. Daggert and Ira J. Copperman.

4th Annual Celebration of Transplantation

SUNY Downstate Medical Center is the only center in New York affililiated with the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Program (MOTTEP) based in Washington DC. MOTTEP works closely with the Mickey Mantle Foundation for the purpose of raising awareness of organ donation and transplantation and its value in saving lives.

On July 18, 2001 Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, together with MOTTEP and the Mickey Mantle Foundation hosted the 4th annual celebration of transplantation at Gracie Mansion. There were many sports celebreties participating in the transplant celebration including former Yankee legend Yogi Berra and Keith Hernandez.

One of our own transplant recipients, Wessie Marbury received special recognition for her extraordinary efforts to raise organ donor awareness throughout the metropolitan area. Wessie has had a successful kidney transplant for the past 12 years and although they do not know each other, she remains eternally grateful to her donor's family for the gift of life which was given to her. She prays for them every day and for the thousands of others who are still waiting for the gift of life.

SUNY Downstate Donors Receive Gift of Life Award

As part of New York States'efforts to recognize the life-saving contribution of organ and tissue donorsand to raise public awareness of the critical need for organ and tissue donation, legislation was signedby Governor Pataki in 2002 establishing the New York State Gift of Life Medal of Honor. At a ceremonyto honor those who have given the gift of life at the famed Copacabana Club in New York City onDecember 5, 2004, Medals of Honor were given to each of 800 donors and donor families, including tenliving donors from Downstate.

For Argelle Bross, the Gift of Life award she was receiving - could not be better named. Argelle,who donated her kidney to her baby brother Anim at SUNYDownstate in 2003 says "By giving my broth-er a kidney, I gave him the Gift of Life. I feel I gave him back his life and now he has a second chance."

For Diana Gallardo who donated her kidney to hersister Virginia at Downstate in 1991, there were no words toexpress the emotions she felt when the award was present-ed to her. "My sister was near death when I donated my kid-ney to her. To see her now leading a normal life, raising herbeautiful family is nothing short of a miracle," she says.

According to Diana, the transplant was more than justa gift of life. It was an opportunity to bond with a sister thatshe barely knew growing up.

When Diana was very young, Virginia moved awayfrom their home in Columbia and went to live in the UnitedStates. It wasn't until Virginia got very sick and Diana testedas a match that she went to New York to help her sister.

"Not only was I able to do something for my sister thathelped save her life but now we are so much a part of eachothers lives. We are extremely close," she says.

Roderick Dawkins who donated his kidney to his sisterTikesha this past year was also deeply moved by theevening.

"I think what I will most remember about the night," says Roderick "was the dancing. Seeing peoplewho were probably lifeless before their operation now so full of life and energy wanting to celebrate andenjoy life. That really touched me a lot," he says.

What Argelle will remember most about the event was looking into the audience and seeing herbrother in the audience.

"My mother used to call him her angel. And I felt like we were each other angels. I helped him andhe helped me. He gave me the greatest gift of all - to see how precious life really is."