On Friends’ Day, discover the stories of Érika, who donated one of her kidneys to her friend Michele, and Adélia, who donated the organ to her friend Sidney
This Saturday (20) we celebrate Friends Day. To celebrate the date, the Earth you will tell true stories that demonstrate the transformative power of friendship. This is the case of Michele Silva de Oliveira and Érika Justino, long-time friends who experienced a unique moment: organ donation.
Michele, 45, was struggling with nephrotic syndrome, which compromised 70% of his kidney function. Dialysis became part of his routine, but the hope of a transplant was increasingly faint. It was then that Érika, a friend of 29 years, offered herself as a donor, showing an act of unconditional love.
On January 26 of this year, a kidney transplant surgery was performed at the Hospital São Lucas Copacabana, in Rio de Janeiro. The joy of the success was immense, and soon both returned to their lives, also sharing their passion for samba, united even more by this bond of love and gratitude.
“I consider what he did for me a true act of love. Sometimes people put so many obstacles to every gesture of generosity, thinking that the donation is only something material, but in reality it is not. You can donate blood, organs and this is all love.”
Michele Silva de Oliveira, who received a kidney from her friend Érika
Michele and Erika’s story is an inspiring reminder of the power of friendship. Not only did they save a life, they also strengthened an already special bond, making it eternal.
An act of generosity that saves human lives
But Michele and Erika’s story is not the only one. In “Canção da América”, Milton Nascimento sings that “a friend is something to keep on the left side of your chest”. And it is precisely in the chest of Sidney dos Santos Gomes, 56, that the friendship of Adélia Maria Mariano Siquera, 36, materialized through the donation of a kidney.
Sidney had been suffering from chronic kidney disease (CRD) for three years and depended on hemodialysis for her life. Adélia, a friend for more than 10 years, did not hesitate to offer herself as a donor when she learned of the compatibility, something difficult that can sometimes happen even between family members. The operation took place at the Niterói Hospital Complex, also in Rio de Janeiro, and was a success.
“Today, after the transplant, which I was able to have thanks to the generosity of my friend of more than 10 years, I have a good quality of life, I am very well, thank God, and I am a different person.”
Sidney dos Santos Gomes, who received a kidney from her friend Adélia
Is it possible to live normally with only one kidney?
While stories like Michele and Sidney’s are inspiring, the rate of living kidney donation in Brazil is still low. According to the Brazilian Transplant RegistryIn 2023, the living donor transplant rate was only 4.78 pmp, while the deceased donor rate was 18.65 pmp.
Donating a kidney is an act of love that can save lives. Science confirms the safety of double organ donation to a living person. In the case of a kidney, the retained organ grows and normally performs the function previously performed by two. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness among the population about the importance of organ donation and demystify the myths that prevent people from making this altruistic gesture.
“Living kidney transplantation has been performed for many years. It is very well established and it is clear to us that the person is fully clinically capable of leading a healthy life with a single kidney, capable of meeting all their needs,” explains nephrologist Alvaro Steiner, a kidney transplant specialist at Hospital São Lucas Copacabana, in a previous interview with Earth you.
How does it work legally?
According to Brazilian law, unrelated people must obtain a judicial permit for donation between living patients, thus preventing the sale of organs. This was the case for the four people shown in this article.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
