Waukesha County Board supervisor recovering after kidney donation

By Karen Pilarski

kpilarski@conleynet.com 262-513-2657

WAUKESHA — Waukesha County Supervisor Mike Crowley is recuperating after several hours of surgery to donate one of his kidneys to a stranger.

On Wednesday after the surgery at UW Health University Hospital, Crowley posted, “Dang! I did it! Up walking same day, even going twice as far as they asked. Hoping to be a good patient,” he said.

Not only is Crowley a good patient, but he is also a good human being.

Crowley has spent the past four years as CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin. The nonprofit strives to prevent kidney diseases, support affected families and increase organ donation awareness. Crowley was inspired to donate one of his kidneys after a visit to several dialysis clinics. This past March he dropped off care bags to three different dialysis clinics for patients, which is one of the programs offered through the nonprofit.

“I saw the hopelessness and helplessness on their faces. When you are going through dialysis ... it is a horrible way to live,” Crowley said.

“What better way to celebrate 60 years on this earth, being grateful for not having kidney disease or major medical issues, a way to give back for my 60th birthday,” Crowley said.

Crowley decided to apply to be an altruistic donor. A non-directed kidney donor is a person who wishes to donate a kidney to a person with advanced kidney disease who the person doesn’t know. He was connected with the UW Health Transplant Clinic and they began a basic medical screening. He also needed to complete a financial consultation, a psychological evaluation and extensive medical tests. After the all-clear, Crowley made the appointment for his surgery.

Because of his donation, Crowley will start a chain: a Never Ending Altruistic Donor chain.

“A NEAD chain (Never Ending Altruistic Donor chain) begins with one non-directed (altruistic) potential donor. In this program, the non-directed donor gives to a person waiting for a transplant, and that recipient’s willing — but incompatible — donor gives to another person waiting, and so on. Each living donor in this system gives to a stranger, and the chain of donors is kept going as long as possible,” according to the National Kidney Foundation website.

Crowley is donating to a stranger; the stranger already has a donor, but they weren’t a match. The other donor agreed to donate to someone else once their recipient gets their transplant.

“It sets off a chain. The chain world record is 100. I’m told I will be a chain starter, and it could be several people to a dozen or more. That is how many lives I will change because I decided to be an altruistic kidney donor,” he said.

Crowley is happy the person he donated to was provided with relief.

“Can you imagine how that recipient feels knowing they may have a Christmas next year and will to see another year? There is someone who wants to donate a kidney to them. I just break down in tears. It’s so emotional when you start to put yourself in their shoes,” Crowley said.

Visit https://www.kidneywi.org/ for more information on kidney health, becoming a donor and more on programs offered.

Waukesha County Supervisor Mike Crowley is recuperating after several hours of surgery to donate one of his kidneys to a stranger. Crowley has spent the past four years as CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin. The nonprofit strives to prevent kidney diseases, supports affected families and increases organ donation awareness. Crowley was inspired to donate one of his kidneys after a visit to several dialysis clinics.

Courtesy of Mike Crowley