CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A kidney donor from Nebraska met her South Jersey recipient during a ceremony at Virtua Hospital in Camden on Friday.
Jill Pinkelman saw an advertisement in a magazine for the Donor Outreach for Veterans program, known as DOVE, and says it took her about a month of thinking it over before she signed up as a donor.
“For me, it was just sort of a no-brainer. If I was in that position, I would pray like hell that somebody could step up for me,” she said.
The operation took place last year, saving the life of Budd Springer, a Cape May Courthouse resident and 36-year veteran of the Army National Guard.
“Just changed my life, made it so good. It’s made it so I could travel and be with my grandkids, my kids,” he said.
Springer says he can’t say “thank you” enough, and living a healthy life is how he plans to honor Jill’s gift.
Pinkelman says it seems like the culture is shifting in America to a “What about me?” mentality but she wants everyone to know good people are still out there, and she encourages anyone who is considering an organ donation to help someone, to step up and not hesitate.
“You know, it just takes one.”