Happy Birthday Mom!

On September 24, 2006 my mother Sara turned 60 years old. This website has been up since then to wish her a happy birthday and raise awareness about organ donation.

On September 29, 2005 just after her birthday, at the start of the Jewish year, my mom received the gift of life, a second birthday in the form of a kidney transplant. She had been sick for some time and had begun dialysis six months prior. On a fateful September day, while at a dialysis treatment she was informed that a kidney donor had been found. We were shocked and overjoyed. The kidney and blood type were a perfect match. We were told by the transplant coordinator that this was like winning the lottery. Our joy was tempered by the knowledge that this gift came at great cost to someone else and their loved ones. It meant so much - no more grueling dialysis treatments three times a week. She can make plans for the week, for travel and life in general. I can look forward to a future with my mom in it which was not necessarily the case with kidney failure.

Over 100,000 people in the U.S. need an organ or a tissue transplant to save or drastically improve their lives and every 13 minutes a new name is added to the waiting list. Every day, on average, 18 people die waiting to receive an organ. I am very glad my mom wasn't one of them.

If you are in need of an organ donation - get on the transplant list right away. Although average wait times in NY can be seven to ten years, my mom received the perfect match after being on the list for just over a month. When it is a perfect match you move to the top of the list. Had she procrastinated because of the theoretical wait time it would have gone to someone else.

If you are a registered organ donor or the loved one of a donor - Thank you!

To the right please find a photo gallery and some useful links about organ donation.

Below please wish my mom a happy birthday, send a general greeting and share your story.

Leave a message Kathy Dwyer (from USA) subject : How to become an organ dono Question: “What is the best way to register to be an organ, eye & tissue donor in NYS?” Answer: If you go to www.SaveLivesNewYork.org , you can enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry. On any given day in the New York metropolitan area, approximately 7,500 patients await organ transplants, yet in 2008 there were only 251 deceased organ donors in the greater New York metropolitan area, compared with the 322 donors in 2007. (As a result of the fall-off in the number of organ donors last year, 596 patients received life-saving organ transplants, compared with the 722 lives saved in 2007.) Only 8% of New Yorkers are on the state registry compared to: 70% in Utah, 69% in Oklahoma, 68% in Indiana, 67% in Arkansas, and 66% in Minnesota. We in New York consider ourselves to be the top in the country in many ways. So help make a difference by signing up and encouraging others to be a NYS organ, eye & tissue donor!! phyllis johnson (from USA) subject : referral from Lorraine Johnson Happy birthday Sara. My sister Lorraine gave me your website so I could talk with you about Dialysis/kidneyTransplant. She is a volunteer at Montefiore Hosp. Bx. NY. Hope to hear from you soon. Sandra Fuhringer (from Canada) subject : organ transplantation On December 21,1983 I had a kidney transplant after 7 years of home dialysis. I understand and share your joy.May your new organ have as long and successful a run as mine. Shana Gelber (from USA) subject : Saying Hi... Hi Sara, Just saying hi. This is Shana, the girl from last night, in the cold "school bus!" I truly admire you...See you around! aljauhara (from saudi arabia) subject : Congratulations Congratulations are sent to you, and eternal wishes of good health and happiness for you and your family. your daughter is doing an excellent job in raising awareness and compassion for organ donors and recipients. Respect and admiration are sent to you. From - "Heather" www.flickr.com/groups/organ_donation - www.scot.org.sa - Kristin Molini (from usa) subject : hello Hey Sara, I just wanted to say hello. I lost your phone number by mistake. I wanted to tell you about Thursday night, November 8th. 7:30 at 1986 West 6th street. Its a meatball contest and I will bring the papers from NYODN. I have some left over. I also called Kathy and left messages today so hopefully I will talk to her tomorrow. Thanks for coming on Saturday night. I love the website. Talk to you soon. Kristin Molini Elaine Berg (from USA) subject : referred by Sara Thanks for coming to the Donor Family luncheon yesterday and for all of your help volunteering for NYODN. This is a great website and a great tribute to you from your family! Jodi (from USA) subject : Happy Birthday Sara ` You are truly a walking miracle. Know that Hashem is with you always. It just goes toprove that nothing is to great a task for the Creator of the universe. Your story has touched my heart and I am sure it will touch and inspire others as well. Stay on the derech always. As my friend hila stated at the Brochos party last week, Hashem created the world in a certain derech, the way he wanted it otherwise the trees would be under water and the sky would be the ground etc. So may you always stay on the derech that hashem has mapped out for you a life of spreading your story of his miracles, light, love and Torah. You are a wonderful women and bring such light and joy to Ohr Naava Women's Torah Center and the world. May this year be a most spiritually fulfilling one, May you become closer and closer with hashem, May you never give up on learning his ways, because if you continue you to learn you will reach your full potential. You were kept here with us for a reason, search inside yourself for what that is and run with it. Your job here is not done. Inspire, teach and spread the fact that miracles from Hashem happen every day. Love, Ohr Naava Jodi chaya sara (from brooklyn) subject : you are so special happy birhtday!! your web site is really something beautiful!! thank you so much for sharing your story with us!! wow what a story to hear to see living proof of your recovery! hashem def. blessed the world to have you with us and to inspire all of us to see that miracles do happen!! to see hashems love for you is unreal i mean that you found the perfect kidney donor onyour birthday is just incredible!!! you are a true walking miracle!! its so awesome to have you join the parties they make it so much more special!! may hashem bench you that this year be fiiled with love happiness and becoming closer to hashem!! may your life be filled with only happiness and inspiration for this coming yr!! may all your mitzvot bring mashiach closer every day!! all my love, chaya sara from OHR NAAVA THE MOST HEAVENLY PLACE ON EARTH!! richard roth (from usa) subject : happy birthday happy birthday in advance. your nyodn party moderator richard roth at cnn ..... View next 10