Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Gift

On New Year’s Day 2023, John Jerge, of Hartland, then 53, shared a surprising New Year’s resolution with his wife. 

“I told her, ‘I’m going to try to donate a kidney this year,’” he said. He had been thinking about kidney donation for a while and wondered if he would be a good candidate. 

The need for kidneys is great. More than 90,000 people in the United States are waiting to receive a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. The human body typically has two kidneys, and people can generally live well with just one, making donation from a living donor possible. 

Comprehensive Screening for Living Donors

Shortly after New Year’s Day, John called the Transplant Center at Froedtert Hospital, the academic medical center of the Froedtert & the MCW health network. He spoke with Ami Blatter, RN, transplant coordinator. Blatter helps screen, educate and care for potential donors like John. 

“I serve as their advocate,” Blatter said. “I ensure that kidney donation is a safe option for them overall.” 

Blatter reviewed John’s medical records and found nothing obvious that would prevent him from donating. She then scheduled him for an extensive set of tests to see if he was healthy enough for kidney donation. 

The workup included blood draws, a chest X-ray, a CT scan and electrocardiogram. Potential donors also meet with a transplant nephrologist, transplant surgeon, social worker and an independent donor advocate. Blatter schedules these appointments on the same day, when possible, to make the process efficient for potential donors. Next, the multidisciplinary transplant team met to discuss John’s options. 

“The donor’s candidacy goes to committee, and we evaluate their suitability or any potential concerns about their health and their ability to donate safely,” said Ty Blink Dunn, MD, MS, kidney transplant surgeon and MCW faculty member.

 “Donors are doing this amazing thing to benefit someone else,” said Emily Joachim, MD, transplant nephrologist and MCW faculty member. “We want to make sure, to the best of our ability, that we are not causing them harm, and that we expect them to live normal, full lives.” 

One morning in October 2023, John was watching television as he took a short break from his work as a health insurance broker when he saw a segment about kidney donation. Just 10 minutes later, his phone rang. It was Blatter calling to say he was cleared to donate a kidney. The call felt miraculous and meaningful. 

“It was really emotional,” he said. 

A Leading Transplant Program

Most people donate a kidney to benefit a loved one or friend with kidney failure, but as an altruistic donor, John would be donating through the National Kidney Registry (NKR) to a stranger. 

The NKR is a network of more than 100 kidney transplant centers across the nation, working to make more kidneys available through living kidney donation. The Froedtert & MCW Living Kidney Donor Transplant Program is considered one of the top programs¹ in the country. 

Among a variety of benefits, the NKR offers donors lost wage reimbursement up to $2,000 per week for up to 12 weeks. It also allows altruistic donors to name up to five loved ones who can receive a kidney through the registry if needed. John felt reassured to extend that protection to his wife and daughter. 

“If John somehow ends up being one of the 31 in 10,000 people who needs a kidney after donation, the registry will give him a kidney,” Dr. Dunn said. “He is protected.” 

‘Miracle Match' 

In June 2024, John’s kidney was identified as “someone’s miracle match,” Dr. Dunn said, and she performed the minimally invasive surgery to remove the kidney from his body. The organ was placed in a container of cold preservation solution to keep it healthy while it was transported to the recipient. 

“This is an amazing way to be incredibly heroic for another person,” Dr. Dunn said. “Most people get an intense feeling of satisfaction for having helped someone in such an important way.” 

John was discharged from the hospital two days after surgery. In less than three months, he felt good enough to compete in a pickleball tournament. He has returned to Froedtert Hospital regularly for follow-ups. The Transplant Center is required to follow kidney donors for two years after their donation. John appreciates the care he received from the transplant team, especially Blatter who walked with him the entire way. 

“She’s just a gem,” he said. “The Froedtert & MCW health network is a big family of people who care.” Whenever he can, John talks with others about kidney donation. He notes that some people mistakenly believe that he must have been super fit or heroic to donate a kidney, but he wants them to know that kidney donation is a rewarding possibility for many people.

 “I’m just a regular guy who gave a kidney,” he said.

¹Kidney Transplant Centers in the U.S. (ranking), kidneytransplantcenters.com