[Music] I’m holding two almonds these almonds
I’m holding two almonds these almonds
I’m holding two almonds these almonds are about the size of the amygdala in
are about the size of the amygdala in
are about the size of the amygdala in your brain the amygdala is an organ with
your brain the amygdala is an organ with
your brain the amygdala is an organ with a variety of functions including
a variety of functions including
a variety of functions including emotional response and empathy if your
emotional response and empathy if your
emotional response and empathy if your amygdala is shriveled and underdeveloped
amygdala is shriveled and underdeveloped
amygdala is shriveled and underdeveloped you may be a sociopath if your amygdala
you may be a sociopath if your amygdala
you may be a sociopath if your amygdala is big well you may be different it’s
is big well you may be different it’s
is big well you may be different it’s June 2015 my wife Louise and I are
June 2015 my wife Louise and I are
June 2015 my wife Louise and I are driving in our car I’m 65 mostly retired
driving in our car I’m 65 mostly retired
driving in our car I’m 65 mostly retired and a bit of a crossroads as to what to
and a bit of a crossroads as to what to
and a bit of a crossroads as to what to do with myself as we’re driving we’re
do with myself as we’re driving we’re
do with myself as we’re driving we’re listening to a podcast in this case the
listening to a podcast in this case the
listening to a podcast in this case the podcast is for economics one of my
podcast is for economics one of my
podcast is for economics one of my favorites the subject of the podcast is
favorites the subject of the podcast is
favorites the subject of the podcast is Professor Alvin Roth and his work in
Professor Alvin Roth and his work in
Professor Alvin Roth and his work in enabling multiple kidney patients to
enabling multiple kidney patients to
enabling multiple kidney patients to receive kidney transplants from living
receive kidney transplants from living
receive kidney transplants from living donors in a cascading chain as I’m
donors in a cascading chain as I’m
donors in a cascading chain as I’m listening to the podcast I am struck by
listening to the podcast I am struck by
listening to the podcast I am struck by the concept of leverage that one
the concept of leverage that one
the concept of leverage that one altruistic or non-directed donor can
altruistic or non-directed donor can
altruistic or non-directed donor can impact multiple patients through the
impact multiple patients through the
impact multiple patients through the donation of one wholly redundant kidney
donation of one wholly redundant kidney
donation of one wholly redundant kidney I know in that moment that I’m gonna
I know in that moment that I’m gonna
I know in that moment that I’m gonna give my kidney to a stranger it’s as if
give my kidney to a stranger it’s as if
give my kidney to a stranger it’s as if I was struck by lightning but the more I
I was struck by lightning but the more I
I was struck by lightning but the more I think about it I realize I have a
think about it I realize I have a
think about it I realize I have a problem my wife you see my wife doesn’t
problem my wife you see my wife doesn’t
problem my wife you see my wife doesn’t do hospitals she comes from Swedish
do hospitals she comes from Swedish
do hospitals she comes from Swedish Finnish stock and they simply never
Finnish stock and they simply never
Finnish stock and they simply never think about their health they are some
think about their health they are some
think about their health they are some of the toughest people around in fact
of the toughest people around in fact
of the toughest people around in fact whenever I’m sick I fear I’m going to be
whenever I’m sick I fear I’m going to be
whenever I’m sick I fear I’m going to be given half
given half
given half get and sent into the woods but I turned
get and sent into the woods but I turned
get and sent into the woods but I turned to her and I say Louise this is
to her and I say Louise this is
to her and I say Louise this is something I really want to do I don’t
something I really want to do I don’t
something I really want to do I don’t know what to expect in response after a
know what to expect in response after a
know what to expect in response after a few moments she turns to me and says yes
few moments she turns to me and says yes
few moments she turns to me and says yes I know that we’ve been married for 33
I know that we’ve been married for 33
I know that we’ve been married for 33 years I know you’re pretty well by now
years I know you’re pretty well by now
years I know you’re pretty well by now go ahead yes I get to give away my
go ahead yes I get to give away my
go ahead yes I get to give away my kidney
kidney
kidney so I contact the National Kidney
so I contact the National Kidney
so I contact the National Kidney registry I get registered at New York
registry I get registered at New York
registry I get registered at New York Presbyterian I start the process to be
Presbyterian I start the process to be
Presbyterian I start the process to be tested and I learn a few things
tested and I learn a few things
tested and I learn a few things kidney donation is major surgery there’s
kidney donation is major surgery there’s
kidney donation is major surgery there’s no getting around that but the odds of a
no getting around that but the odds of a
no getting around that but the odds of a mate of a serious complication arising
mate of a serious complication arising
mate of a serious complication arising during surgery is one in 3,000 you have
during surgery is one in 3,000 you have
during surgery is one in 3,000 you have two kidneys combined that have four
two kidneys combined that have four
two kidneys combined that have four times the capacity that you need to be
times the capacity that you need to be
times the capacity that you need to be healthy when you donate a kidney your
healthy when you donate a kidney your
healthy when you donate a kidney your remaining kidney grows larger and you
remaining kidney grows larger and you
remaining kidney grows larger and you retain twice the capacity you need
retain twice the capacity you need
retain twice the capacity you need there’s one other fact that curiously
there’s one other fact that curiously
there’s one other fact that curiously studies have shown that there’s a
studies have shown that there’s a
studies have shown that there’s a measurable improvement in the quality of
measurable improvement in the quality of
measurable improvement in the quality of life of the donor I’ll get back to that
life of the donor I’ll get back to that
life of the donor I’ll get back to that it seems that my instant inclination to
it seems that my instant inclination to
it seems that my instant inclination to donate my kidney is symptomatic of a
donate my kidney is symptomatic of a
donate my kidney is symptomatic of a certain type of individual you might
certain type of individual you might
certain type of individual you might find this hard to believe but as a group
find this hard to believe but as a group
find this hard to believe but as a group we are not quite normal
we are not quite normal
we are not quite normal professor Abigail Marsh of Georgetown
professor Abigail Marsh of Georgetown
professor Abigail Marsh of Georgetown has done extensive research on non
has done extensive research on non
has done extensive research on non directed donors in her research she has
directed donors in her research she has
directed donors in her research she has shown that as a group non directed
shown that as a group non directed
shown that as a group non directed donors have a significantly enlarged
donors have a significantly enlarged
donors have a significantly enlarged amygdala I’ve Sid spoken with a number
amygdala I’ve Sid spoken with a number
amygdala I’ve Sid spoken with a number of non directed donors and I can tell
of non directed donors and I can tell
of non directed donors and I can tell you that the epiphany that I felt was
you that the epiphany that I felt was
you that the epiphany that I felt was shared by virtually every one of them
shared by virtually every one of them
shared by virtually every one of them almost to a person that sense of I have
almost to a person that sense of I have
almost to a person that sense of I have to do
to do
to do I want to do this I must do this it’s a
I want to do this I must do this it’s a
I want to do this I must do this it’s a common theme but it’s not all together
common theme but it’s not all together
common theme but it’s not all together good we’re the last group you want to
good we’re the last group you want to
good we’re the last group you want to have with you at the apocalypse we you
have with you at the apocalypse we you
have with you at the apocalypse we you breed be the first to be eaten and we
breed be the first to be eaten and we
breed be the first to be eaten and we probably offer to help with the cooking
so I completed the testing and was
so I completed the testing and was accepted as a donor because I am Type O
accepted as a donor because I am Type O
accepted as a donor because I am Type O positive I can donate to anyone
positive I can donate to anyone
positive I can donate to anyone finally I’m a hot ticket now all I have
finally I’m a hot ticket now all I have
finally I’m a hot ticket now all I have to do is tell my kids we have three
to do is tell my kids we have three
to do is tell my kids we have three grown children and because they’re our
grown children and because they’re our
grown children and because they’re our children I knew this would be the easy
children I knew this would be the easy
children I knew this would be the easy part I sent out an email explaining the
part I sent out an email explaining the
part I sent out an email explaining the plan
plan
plan the youngest came back first
the youngest came back first
the youngest came back first he said go for it dad good on you
he said go for it dad good on you
he said go for it dad good on you the oldest was considerably less
the oldest was considerably less
the oldest was considerably less enthusiastic he didn’t say he wouldn’t
enthusiastic he didn’t say he wouldn’t
enthusiastic he didn’t say he wouldn’t support me in this but he had a laundry
support me in this but he had a laundry
support me in this but he had a laundry list of questions and concerns we worked
list of questions and concerns we worked
list of questions and concerns we worked our way through them it was fine our
our way through them it was fine our
our way through them it was fine our middle child
middle child
middle child our daughter daddy’s favorite girl
our daughter daddy’s favorite girl
our daughter daddy’s favorite girl our empathetic blonde who volunteers her
our empathetic blonde who volunteers her
our empathetic blonde who volunteers her time with the less fortunate of every
time with the less fortunate of every
time with the less fortunate of every stripe told me in no uncertain terms
stripe told me in no uncertain terms
stripe told me in no uncertain terms this will not happen
it appears that her amygdala is not as
it appears that her amygdala is not as big as I thought so we did the slow
big as I thought so we did the slow
big as I thought so we did the slow climb up the mountain I addressed your
climb up the mountain I addressed your
climb up the mountain I addressed your every concern until finally she said
every concern until finally she said
every concern until finally she said well you’re going to do this anyway but
well you’re going to do this anyway but
well you’re going to do this anyway but I am NOT happy about it so I went to the
I am NOT happy about it so I went to the
I am NOT happy about it so I went to the hospital to meet with the coordinator to
hospital to meet with the coordinator to
hospital to meet with the coordinator to talk about the dates for the I’d be
talk about the dates for the I’d be
talk about the dates for the I’d be available for the operation I said I
available for the operation I said I
available for the operation I said I have a window of September 23rd to
have a window of September 23rd to
have a window of September 23rd to middle of November the donor looked at
middle of November the donor looked at
middle of November the donor looked at me and she said Ned you’re all positive
me and she said Ned you’re all positive
me and she said Ned you’re all positive when I hit this button
when I hit this button
when I hit this button you’re gonna let up computer screens
you’re gonna let up computer screens
you’re gonna let up computer screens across the country indeed the surgery
across the country indeed the surgery
across the country indeed the surgery took place on September 23rd and all
took place on September 23rd and all
took place on September 23rd and all went well my donation resulted in a
went well my donation resulted in a
went well my donation resulted in a chain of three transplants my kidney
chain of three transplants my kidney
chain of three transplants my kidney went to my recipient in Denver her
went to my recipient in Denver her
went to my recipient in Denver her father’s kidney went to Hartford where
father’s kidney went to Hartford where
father’s kidney went to Hartford where the last two transplants took place as a
the last two transplants took place as a
the last two transplants took place as a non directed donor you don’t know who’s
non directed donor you don’t know who’s
non directed donor you don’t know who’s going to be receiving your kidney until
going to be receiving your kidney until
going to be receiving your kidney until after the operation and then only if
after the operation and then only if
after the operation and then only if both parties agree in February some five
both parties agree in February some five
both parties agree in February some five months later I was contacted by
months later I was contacted by
months later I was contacted by freakanomics who asked me to come in and
freakanomics who asked me to come in and
freakanomics who asked me to come in and talk about what I had done with them on
talk about what I had done with them on
talk about what I had done with them on their podcast for those of you who were
their podcast for those of you who were
their podcast for those of you who were old enough to remember the TV show I had
old enough to remember the TV show I had
old enough to remember the TV show I had quite a this is your life moment when
quite a this is your life moment when
quite a this is your life moment when halfway through the interview host
halfway through the interview host
halfway through the interview host Stephen Dubner announced that they were
Stephen Dubner announced that they were
Stephen Dubner announced that they were able to get Danielle my recipient on the
able to get Danielle my recipient on the
able to get Danielle my recipient on the line with us and that I would be
line with us and that I would be
line with us and that I would be speaking with her for the first time
speaking with her for the first time
speaking with her for the first time live during the interview that was a
live during the interview that was a
live during the interview that was a moment I will never forget I thought
moment I will never forget I thought
moment I will never forget I thought that when I donated my kidney that would
that when I donated my kidney that would
that when I donated my kidney that would be the end of it I was not prepared for
be the end of it I was not prepared for
be the end of it I was not prepared for the transformative power of the
the transformative power of the
the transformative power of the experience I felt afterwards as if
experience I felt afterwards as if
experience I felt afterwards as if something inside me had fundamentally
something inside me had fundamentally
something inside me had fundamentally changed there’s a an author and a living
changed there’s a an author and a living
changed there’s a an author and a living donor
donor
donor herself who writes about donors and this
herself who writes about donors and this
herself who writes about donors and this is what she says living donors are
is what she says living donors are
is what she says living donors are happier I’ve met a lot of donors in the
happier I’ve met a lot of donors in the
happier I’ve met a lot of donors in the last five years and if I had to choose
last five years and if I had to choose
last five years and if I had to choose one word to describe them beyond
one word to describe them beyond
one word to describe them beyond compassionate it would be happy there’s
compassionate it would be happy there’s
compassionate it would be happy there’s a euphoria that accompanies the active
a euphoria that accompanies the active
a euphoria that accompanies the active living donation which is difficult to
living donation which is difficult to
living donation which is difficult to explain without sounding a little crazy
explain without sounding a little crazy
explain without sounding a little crazy that description rings true to me and I
that description rings true to me and I
that description rings true to me and I see in other donors I’ve met as well so
see in other donors I’ve met as well so
see in other donors I’ve met as well so what to do with this newfound sense of
what to do with this newfound sense of
what to do with this newfound sense of well-being I knew I wanted to stay
well-being I knew I wanted to stay
well-being I knew I wanted to stay involved I spoke with a number of health
involved I spoke with a number of health
involved I spoke with a number of health care professionals and I soon learned
care professionals and I soon learned
care professionals and I soon learned how incredibly difficult it could be for
how incredibly difficult it could be for
how incredibly difficult it could be for a patient on dialysis to generate the
a patient on dialysis to generate the
a patient on dialysis to generate the resources necessary to mount a campaign
resources necessary to mount a campaign
resources necessary to mount a campaign to find a donor most of these patients
to find a donor most of these patients
to find a donor most of these patients have families who know the circumstances
have families who know the circumstances
have families who know the circumstances and who choose not to come forward worse
and who choose not to come forward worse
and who choose not to come forward worse when a patient asks a family member
when a patient asks a family member
when a patient asks a family member directly and that person declines you
directly and that person declines you
directly and that person declines you can imagine what that does to the
can imagine what that does to the
can imagine what that does to the patient’s sense of self-worth add to
patient’s sense of self-worth add to
patient’s sense of self-worth add to that the difficulties of dialysis it’s a
that the difficulties of dialysis it’s a
that the difficulties of dialysis it’s a procedure required three to four days a
procedure required three to four days a
procedure required three to four days a week
week
week three to four hours at a time it’s
three to four hours at a time it’s
three to four hours at a time it’s physically exhausting and it’s basically
physically exhausting and it’s basically
physically exhausting and it’s basically a form of slow death since dialysis that
a form of slow death since dialysis that
a form of slow death since dialysis that dialysis cannot rid the organs of toxins
dialysis cannot rid the organs of toxins
dialysis cannot rid the organs of toxins the way that a kidney does right now in
the way that a kidney does right now in
the way that a kidney does right now in this country they’re a little over
this country they’re a little over
this country they’re a little over ninety nine thousand people waiting for
ninety nine thousand people waiting for
ninety nine thousand people waiting for a kidney transplant last year there were
a kidney transplant last year there were
a kidney transplant last year there were 18,000 transplants waiting times vary
18,000 transplants waiting times vary
18,000 transplants waiting times vary from hospital and region but a wait time
from hospital and region but a wait time
from hospital and region but a wait time of five to ten years is not uncommon
of five to ten years is not uncommon
of five to ten years is not uncommon many many people die waiting for a
many many people die waiting for a
many many people die waiting for a kidney you can see how someone in this
kidney you can see how someone in this
kidney you can see how someone in this condition could lose all hope now I know
condition could lose all hope now I know
condition could lose all hope now I know that there are not a lot of us
that there are not a lot of us
that there are not a lot of us non-directed donors out there according
non-directed donors out there according
non-directed donors out there according to the United Network for Organ Sharing
to the United Network for Organ Sharing
to the United Network for Organ Sharing in 2014
in 2014
in 2014 out of an adult population of two
out of an adult population of two
out of an adult population of two 142 million people in this country there
142 million people in this country there
142 million people in this country there were 183 of us to put that number in
were 183 of us to put that number in
were 183 of us to put that number in perspective that is 39 fewer that have
perspective that is 39 fewer that have
perspective that is 39 fewer that have visited the International Space Station
but I also know there are a lot of you
but I also know there are a lot of you potential donors out there you know who
potential donors out there you know who
potential donors out there you know who you are
you are
you are the ones with two kidneys who might just
the ones with two kidneys who might just
the ones with two kidneys who might just now be getting the word now that number
now be getting the word now that number
now be getting the word now that number 183 does not include parens on Facebook
183 does not include parens on Facebook
183 does not include parens on Facebook and other social media we all know what
and other social media we all know what
and other social media we all know what an incredibly powerful tool social media
an incredibly powerful tool social media
an incredibly powerful tool social media can be for bringing people together so I
can be for bringing people together so I
can be for bringing people together so I got to thinking wine there’s nobody who
got to thinking wine there’s nobody who
got to thinking wine there’s nobody who can who can talk to a potential donor as
can who can talk to a potential donor as
can who can talk to a potential donor as well as somebody who’s already donated
well as somebody who’s already donated
well as somebody who’s already donated so why not pair a patient on dialysis
so why not pair a patient on dialysis
so why not pair a patient on dialysis with a person who was given a kidney and
with a person who was given a kidney and
with a person who was given a kidney and have that person become the patient’s
have that person become the patient’s
have that person become the patient’s champion and advocate to help them find
champion and advocate to help them find
champion and advocate to help them find a kidney on social media so last
a kidney on social media so last
a kidney on social media so last February I started donor to donor a
February I started donor to donor a
February I started donor to donor a foundation designed to do just that we
foundation designed to do just that we
foundation designed to do just that we took on as our first sponsored patient
took on as our first sponsored patient
took on as our first sponsored patient Brian a 47 year old man from Connecticut
Brian a 47 year old man from Connecticut
Brian a 47 year old man from Connecticut we’d been on dialysis for four years we
we’d been on dialysis for four years we
we’d been on dialysis for four years we started a Facebook campaign for him it
started a Facebook campaign for him it
started a Facebook campaign for him it went viral and we were contacted by a
went viral and we were contacted by a
went viral and we were contacted by a beautiful woman named Moya who
beautiful woman named Moya who
beautiful woman named Moya who volunteered to give her kidney to Brian
volunteered to give her kidney to Brian
volunteered to give her kidney to Brian this is a picture of Moya moments before
this is a picture of Moya moments before
this is a picture of Moya moments before she gets wheeled in for the operation I
she gets wheeled in for the operation I
she gets wheeled in for the operation I think you’ll agree this is the very
think you’ll agree this is the very
think you’ll agree this is the very definition of a nervous smile
the transplant took place on June 23rd
the transplant took place on June 23rd two complete strangers came together and
two complete strangers came together and
two complete strangers came together and Brian’s life was transformed now we do
Brian’s life was transformed now we do
Brian’s life was transformed now we do not live in a fairy tale and we do not
not live in a fairy tale and we do not
not live in a fairy tale and we do not live happily ever after
live happily ever after
live happily ever after I’m sorry to tell you that in late
I’m sorry to tell you that in late
I’m sorry to tell you that in late November Brian developed pneumonia and
November Brian developed pneumonia and
November Brian developed pneumonia and December he died we lost a dear friend
December he died we lost a dear friend
December he died we lost a dear friend right now
right now
right now donor the donor is facilitating the
donor the donor is facilitating the
donor the donor is facilitating the testing of seven people who’ve come
testing of seven people who’ve come
testing of seven people who’ve come forward to donate to our sponsored
forward to donate to our sponsored
forward to donate to our sponsored patients and or create a kidney chain
patients and or create a kidney chain
patients and or create a kidney chain we’ll continue to do this work until the
we’ll continue to do this work until the
we’ll continue to do this work until the folks in genetic research develop new
folks in genetic research develop new
folks in genetic research develop new kidneys from stem cells I’m told by my
kidneys from stem cells I’m told by my
kidneys from stem cells I’m told by my friends and that business is going to
friends and that business is going to
friends and that business is going to take about 10 years so while this talk
take about 10 years so while this talk
take about 10 years so while this talk has been about how a man in his 60s has
has been about how a man in his 60s has
has been about how a man in his 60s has opened a new and unexpected chapter in
opened a new and unexpected chapter in
opened a new and unexpected chapter in his life the specifics here don’t matter
his life the specifics here don’t matter
his life the specifics here don’t matter what matters is this one thought that by
what matters is this one thought that by
what matters is this one thought that by giving a piece of yourself to others in
giving a piece of yourself to others in
giving a piece of yourself to others in whatever way that may have relevance to
whatever way that may have relevance to
whatever way that may have relevance to you personally
you personally
you personally can allow the rest of you to grow in new
can allow the rest of you to grow in new
can allow the rest of you to grow in new and exciting ways you might otherwise
and exciting ways you might otherwise
and exciting ways you might otherwise never experience thank you
never experience thank you
never experience thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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