Sisters Bethany and Hannah Goralski donated their kidneys to strangers after losing their dad Mark to kidney failure. Image: Facebook/Bethany Goralski
Two sisters from Illinois, United States donated their kidneys to strangers 24 hours apart in honor of their dad who passed away from kidney failure.
Sisters Bethany and Hannah Goralski made the decision in the hopes that two other families would not have to suffer the way they did after losing their dad Mark.
Their dad succumbed to kidney failure and Crohn’s disease last September 2018, as per “Good Morning America” on June 3. He first underwent a kidney transplant in 2011 and was supposed to undergo a second one last year, but was deemed not healthy enough by doctors.
“I hope he would be really proud,” said the 25-year-old Bethany in the report. “We just want to make sure two less families had to go through what we went through.”
Hannah, 24 years old, also said it was a great way to honor their dad, who was giving and kind to the people around him.
“You are just in a lull and a loss and you’re thinking about what am I going to do to stop thinking about this person,” she said. “My dad was always giving, he was always helping others and I thought, ‘What a great way to honor him.’”
The sisters underwent the surgeries at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago last March, the very same hospital where their dad received his first transplant eight years back.
Bethany shared the moment on social media on March 19 and posted a photo of her and Hannah after the operation. In the photo, the sisters can be seen showing their stitches from the surgeries.
“Hannah and I were determined to make sure two less families went through what we did this past year,” she said. “So last week, Hannah and I donated our kidneys anonymously 24 [hours] apart. This is for you, Dad.”
The sisters have no regrets and believe their dad would have done the same thing should he be alive.
“I think he would have done the exact same thing, he was always helping others,” Hannah added. “I know he would be proud.” Cody Cepeda/JB
RELATED STORIES:
Woman gives kidney to retired firefighter who saved her daughter 2 years ago
Principal dies after procedure to donate bone marrow to 14-year-old boy