His Brother's Gift of a Healthy Kidney
At just 29 years old, Kevin Montello鈥檚 kidneys began to fail听after many years of living with kidney disease.听听
Thankfully, with tremendous听support听from his听family, many of whom听were听tested to see if they might be a match, he didn鈥檛 have to look far for a donor.听
鈥淢y brother,听David,听was almost a perfect match,鈥听Kevin says, and adds, 鈥淓arly on, the doctors and staff at the 国产情色 (WCM) and NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Program were always available and helped guide us through the process. And before we knew it,听we were scheduled a date of surgery for March 5.鈥听
Unfortunately,听Kevin recalls the procedure was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.听
鈥Anxiously waiting to hear back from the staff at WCM/NYP, we finally got the call that our new date was June 10,鈥 he says.听鈥Our coordinator听assured us that the hospital was taking all the necessary precautions to reopen,听and explained to us the new standards for surgery and recovery,鈥 he says.听听
All staff members were quarantined and tested. They were required to听wear masks at all times,听during听both听surgery and recovery.听听听
鈥Thankfully the surgery with Dr. Sandip Kapur went very well,鈥 Kevin says.听鈥We were in recovery for听five听days with excellent care from the nurses, and now my brother and I are doing great. I feel better than ever with much more energy鈥.奥e will be planning a surfing听trip,听which is something we鈥ve been wanting to do for some听time.鈥听