In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at increasing living kidney donations, a pilot program has begun connecting patients with volunteers who use social media to advocate for organ donations. This program, which started in May 2023, focuses on patients with limited social networks, like Fernando Moreno, who has been on dialysis for nearly two years while waiting for a kidney transplant.
Moreno, a 50-year-old truck driver from Vineland, New Jersey, has faced an “unbearable” wait for a new kidney. His current treatment center in Philadelphia introduced him to this innovative pilot project, which pairs patients with “angel advocates” willing to spread their stories to a wider audience. These advocates are often strangers who leverage their social media connections to raise awareness and potentially find living donors.
The initiative, dubbed the Great Social Experiment and founded by filmmaker David Krissman, has not yet secured a donor for Moreno but has instilled a sense of hope. “This process is great,” he expressed, acknowledging that he is looking for someone willing to take a chance on helping him.
Program Structure and Early Successes
The pilot program currently serves 15 patients across three Pennsylvania hospitals: Temple University Hospital, UPMC-Harrisburg, and Jefferson University Hospital. Funded by a grant exceeding $100,000 from the Gift of Life Donor Program, the initiative seeks to determine whether motivated volunteers can enhance the likelihood of finding living kidney donors.
According to Ryan Ihlenfeldt, the director of clinical transplant services at Temple, two of the five patients enrolled at their facility have found kidney donors, with one now preparing for surgery. Additionally, one patient at UPMC-Harrisburg has undergone a successful transplant.
Richard Hasz Jr., the chief executive of Gift of Life, highlighted the uniqueness of Krissman’s approach. “This is the first of its kind that I’m aware of,” he stated, emphasizing its potential to identify the types of messages that resonate with potential donors. The program combines social media outreach with compelling storytelling and proactive engagement of patients’ existing contacts.
The Need for Increased Living Donations
In the United States, approximately 90,000 individuals are currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Last year, only about 6,400 living kidney transplants were performed, while the majority of the roughly 28,000 total transplants came from deceased donors. Thousands of patients die annually while waiting for an organ transplant, making it imperative to explore new avenues for increasing living donations.
Living kidney donations are often preferable, as they can lead to better matches and reduce the risk of organ rejection. Furthermore, the planning flexibility allows for surgeries scheduled at optimal times for both the donor and recipient. According to the National Kidney Foundation, living donor kidneys generally have a longer lifespan compared to those from deceased donors.
The program also aims to educate potential donors about the process. For instance, living donors must typically be at least 18 years old and undergo thorough health screenings to ensure they do not have underlying conditions that could complicate the donation.
Becca Brown, director of transplant services at UPMC-Harrisburg, believes the program could have significant implications for future kidney donation efforts. “There’s potential for this to really snowball,” she noted, expressing eagerness to see the outcomes and whether the model can be expanded to help more patients.
Krissman, who was inspired by his own health challenges two decades ago, has already seen success with previous efforts. He helped two of four patients find living donors through social media outreach. His earlier pilot program in North Carolina matched all three participating patients with donors.
At a recent event in Harrisburg, community members gathered to learn about the program and its impact. Ahmad Collins, 50, a city government employee and former Penn State linebacker, spoke about the potential for strangers to become heroes through organ donation. “They can have the opportunity to save somebody’s life,” he stated, recognizing the profound impact that one decision can have on another’s future.
With the ongoing challenges of kidney disease and the urgent need for more living donations, this pilot program represents a hopeful step forward in leveraging social networks to save lives.
