Queens Teacher Donates Kidney to Colleague, Even Though They Barely Knew Each Other
A Selfless Act of Kindness
Maggie Goodman only knew Thomas Coveney in passing. They both teach at I.S. 73 in Queens, but their paths never really crossed, until Goodman saw a post on Facebook that had been shared many times, stating that Coveney urgently needed a kidney donor for a second chance at life.
“I saw the post in late October and I was surprised it was someone I worked with. I didn’t know Thomas that well, but I wanted to help,” said Goodman. “I called Northwell Health and that was the first step.”
A Match Made from Heaven
She was a match and wanted to be a living donor. Humans have two kidneys and can survive with one, so she decided to donate hers to Coveney. “I remember she came up to me about three weeks ago and holding a bag of kidney beans said, ‘Will you take my kidney?’ And I said ‘Are you nuts?’” said Coveney.
A Rare but Successful Procedure
He was shocked because he barely knew Goodman, and was overwhelmed by her selflessness. Doctors say it is a rare thing: of the 25,000 transplants performed nationwide in 2024, only 6,000 were from living donors.
The procedure itself is done laparoscopically. “The whole operation is done through one little cut, small less than an inch hole in the belly button,” explained transplant surgeon Dr. Ahmed Fahmy. “And the kidney is removed from the same incision.”
A New Lease on Life
Fahmy said Goodman’s surgery took two and half hours and she recovered at the hospital for three days. He says her selflessness allowed Coveney to avoid dialysis and that recipients who receive living donor kidneys tend to fare much better than when the donor is deceased.
The surgery was Feb. 10, and days later Goodman was walking, she said. She has been walking every day since the surgery, and two weeks later, feels back to normal. Coveney is improving, feeling better and stronger every day, and thankful for Goodman.
A Message of Hope
“There are not a lot of people on this earth like Maggie,” said Coveney. “I just think that she is one of the kindest, most selfless people that probably ever existed. It was a real surprise and I just think that she’s like an angel, she saved my life.”
Conclusion
Goodman’s selfless act has brought hope to those who are in need of a kidney transplant. Her story serves as a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.
FAQs
* What is the success rate of living kidney donation?
+ According to Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, only 6,000 out of 25,000 transplants performed nationwide in 2024 were from living donors.
* How does living kidney donation compare to deceased donor transplantation?
+ Recipients who receive living donor kidneys tend to fare much better than those who receive a deceased donor kidney.
* How long does it take to recover from a living kidney donation?
+ According to Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, Goodman’s surgery took two and half hours, and she recovered at the hospital for three days.
