At our regular meeting on Wednesday, April 17th, Mike Lollo, an NYPD detective, spoke of the circumstances, deliberations, choices, and processes he experienced when deciding to donate his kidney to a complete stranger.
He explained that it began last year with an Internet plea for a kidney donor for a fellow police officer. Although that opportunity didn’t work out, similar, subsequent kidney donor pleas led Mike to do considerable research on the needs, options, risks , and rewards associated with organ donations, and his ultimate, altruistic decision to be a kidney donor.
Mike described the medical tests and overall process he went through at the Cornell Medical Center to prepare for the donation. He also described the mission and operation of the National Kidney Registry, an organization that assures exact matches between kidney donors and recipients. The Registry also assures that the non-directed donor, giving to a stranger, initiates a chain of transplants that helps many patients get kidney transplants.
Mike also explained his efforts on behalf of the Living Donor Support Act, pending NYS legislation that will help organ donors with lost pay and other costs associated with their donation.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for kidney donors, and organ donors in general. Although there are over 150,000 people in the United States living full and active lives with transplanted kidneys, there are 95,00 on the waiting list. Mike encouraged everyone to opt for organ donor when renewing one’s driver’s license or as part of one’s will.
Following Mike’s talk, John Scoglio briefly described the process from the recipient’s perspective, having recently received a new kidney from his daughter.
Mike and his wife Maeghan, John and Danielle Scoglio are shown above with Babylon Rotary Co-Presidents Charlie Spencer and Scott Lockwood.