Rev. Danny Fisher

The Associated Press ran a fascinating, inspiring article this week about a new study published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings suggests that a “pay-it-forward” daisy-chain of ten kidney donations initiated by “a single altruistic donor” has the possibility to “help increase the number of kidney transplants, lead to better matches that will increase survival and even reduce spending on costly, long-term dialysis.” Dr. Michael Rees, the transplant surgeon at University of Toledo Medical Center who authored the study, says, “My dream would be that we eliminate the waiting list because we could turn every altruistic donor into 100 transplants.” Give the AP’s article a read here.

In other organ donation news, the former stars of NBC’s ER, Julianna Margulies and George Clooney, returned to the show this week for one of its final episodes. Their thread of the story revolved around the vital importance of organ and tissue donation from deceased patients. In the powerful scene embedded below (which plays more like a PSA), the two make a convincing pitch to a grieving grandmother (played by Susan Sarandon). Take a look. And for more on how to register as an organ and tissue donor in your state, go here.