FORT WORTH – A four-way kidney swap saved the life of 54-year old Tonda Bone. Thanks to the generosity of an altruistic donor and the sacrifice of Bone's brother Randy, Tonda was able to receive a kidney from a healthy living donor. Bone will speak about this gift of life and the importance of organ donation as the featured speaker at a Donate Life Month ceremony at Medical City Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 9, at 3:00pm.
The organ donation awareness event on April 9 is co-sponsored by LifeGift and visitors will have an opportunity to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors. As part of the event, Medical City Fort Worth will raise the American flag and a flag commemorating organ donation month.
"I am forever grateful for the selfless gift that has given me a second chance at life," Bone recalled. "Even though my brother Randy and I were not a match, his decision to donate allowed me to receive the kidney of another generous, altruistic donor."
Medical City Fort Worth is recognized by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) as the #1 kidney transplant program in the nation for wait times. Patients on the transplant list at Medical City Fort Worth wait an average of 5.3 months compared to 61.8 months nationally. In addition, SRTR has recognized Medical City Fort Worth as having some of the best patient outcomes nationally.
"Living kidney donation is the best option for those waiting on the transplant list," said transplant nephrologist Sridhar Allam, MD, Medical Director of the kidney transplant program at Medical City Fort Worth. "Not only are the organs longer lasting, recipients are able to be immediately transplanted once a matching donor is identified instead of having to wait on a deceased donor list."
"Family is very important to me," Randy Bone, Tonda's brother, shared. "I did not hesitate to make the decision to donate my kidney once we learned that Tonda was in need. Although Tonda and I were not a match, my kidney was able to go toward another individual in need. It ended up as a win-win."
More than 11,000 people are on the transplant waiting list in Texas. Register to become an organ donor online at Donate Life Texas. For more information about transplants at Medical City Fort Worth, visit Medical City Fort Worth Transplant.
Members of the media are invited to attend the Donate Life Ceremony at the flagpoles in front of Medical City Fort Worth, 900 8th Avenue, Fort Worth, 76104. Dr. Allam, kidney transplant recipient Tonda Bone and her brother, Randy Bone, will be available for interviews. Free parking is available in any hospital visitor parking lot.