You might describe Sebastian Placensia, 55, as an acquaintance of Civica Perez, a 71-year-old grandmother from Secaucus with polycystic kidney disease. During a social gathering, after learning that Ms. Perez required a kidney transplant, Mr. Placensia readily volunteered to be tested as her donor. “Civica came to this country from Cuba. I came from the Dominican Republic and my ancestors were Cuban and Hebrew. When it comes to organ donation, people match across nationalities. Becoming a living donor is my way of bridging differences in this world, showing people that we have much more in common than we think.”
Fortunately for Ms. Perez, Mr. Placensia was a match.
Mr. Placensia ultimately donated his kidney to Ms. Perez through the Living Donor Institute at the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Center in Newark, New Jersey. Long-recognized for its excellence in patient care, medical education, and research, Newark Beth Israel performed New Jersey’s first kidney transplant in 1967, and the state’s first living - related kidney transplant in 1968. Since that time, more than 2000 kidney transplants have been performed at the Medical Center. Over the years, the program has continued to expand, combining personalized, compassionate care with cutting edge advances in medical technology.
Today, Mr. Placensia remains healthy and active, while Ms. Perez proclaims she is “alive again.”
This nationally respected team of nephrologists and surgeons, registered nurses, social workers and support staff at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center offers an increasing number of transplant alternatives for chronic kidney disease, and hope to many whose medical conditions previously prevented transplantation as an option. It is easy to see why people prefer the premier program that has served New Jersey and out-of-state residents for more than 40 years in the field of renal transplantation.
To learn more please visit www.transplantkidney.org or contact Newark Beth Israel Medical Center at 1-877-878-7555.
Date: March 9, 2011
Contact: Samantha Anton
Phone: 973-322-5425
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