Rochester, N.Y.—They met once before, but that wasn’t enough. James Hayton, a Lima resident who spent nearly four years on dialysis threw a small party Wednesday for the woman and medical team who saved his life.
“It’s somebody that I never met or knew, it was amazing,” said Hayton.
Donna Germano of Cicero donated the kidney and over the past six months, Hayton's health has improved dramatically.
“I have a lot more energy [I’m] ready to go,” said Hayton.
Germano said she was motivated to donate an organ because of her fondness for a patient at her Syracuse medical office. She had hoped to donate to that person, but couldn’t. That setback didn’t deter Germano. Hayton’s doctor describes her as a hero, but it’s not a title she likes.
“That’s the one thing I don’t want to be called. The only reason I’m coming forward—if I can change one person and have one person sign up and register [to become an organ donor] that’s what I want,” explained Germano.
There are 478 people on Strong Hospital’s kidney waiting list and 7,938 waiting for a kidney statewide according to a spokesperson for the University of Rochester Medical Center.
