October 29, 2024 — For years, PEF member Jacques Goulet has been a regular blood donor, but he never considered he could do more until he came across a Facebook post from a high school acquaintance whose father was in desperate need of a kidney.
Dominick Purnomo’s dad, Yono, a retired restauranteur, was in end-stage renal failure and would not survive the expected five to seven years wait for a kidney donor.
“At first, I hadn’t even considered that I could potentially donate,” Goulet, a 10-year PEF member and Information Technology Specialist at the Office of Information Technology Services said. “But I came back to that Facebook post a few times and thought, ‘Why not?’ After doing some research, it seemed (surprisingly) straightforward and doable, so I went forward with it.”
Goulet began the process by reaching out to and meeting with the donor coordinator at Albany Med that was listed in the Facebook posting. With live donation, hospitals help coordinate the donation in order to protect everyone’s privacy and ensure no collusion occurs. It’s illegal in the U.S. to receive compensation for an organ.
What came next?
“Labs. Lots of labs,” Goulet said. “Blood tests, imaging, meetings with surgery staff.”
The donation process shifted from Albany to New York Presbyterian Hospital in the city, which performs the most kidney transplants of any hospital in the country, and where Yono’s family decided to travel for his treatment. After several weeks of testing and clearances, Goulet and Yono underwent surgery on April 23, 2024.
“Recovery was pretty standard: Rest, walk, when possible, no heavy lifting.” Goulet said. ““My wife (fiancée at the time) was a rockstar during that time, because apparently, I have a hard time not doing anything! She kept me on track, and we avoided any hernias. She also planned a wedding during that time, and we tied the knot on May 26, just over a month after surgery.
“We are now at six months post-op and Yono and I are both doing great,” he said.
Meeting his recipient was “surreal,” Goulet said.
“We met in the waiting room on the morning of the surgery, and he just gave me a big hug with tears running down his face,” he said. “It took me awhile to really grasp the full impact of it all. The whole process was pretty easy for me, just a lot of appointments, but for Yono it was literally a lifesaver.”
Goulet said he is fortunate to be a New York state Employee because he was granted paid leave for live organ donation.
“That was a huge help in all of this. For many people, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid, which can be a significant roadblock,” he said. “That said, there are several organizations that assist with things like lost wages, travel expenses, and other things for live donors. Donor Shield, for example, reimburses up to $2,000 per week for lost wages.”
Medical expenses related to the procedure are covered by the recipient’s insurance.
“I think the main thing I’d like to convey is just how doable this may be for many people who maybe hadn’t considered being a live donor before,” Goulet said. “You could save a life!”
Learn about live kidney donation here.