[Music] you can hear me yeah I’m a New Yorker
you can hear me yeah I’m a New Yorker
you can hear me yeah I’m a New Yorker sometimes I don’t need a mic so this is
sometimes I don’t need a mic so this is
sometimes I don’t need a mic so this is strange for me so my favorite Lebanese
strange for me so my favorite Lebanese
strange for me so my favorite Lebanese saying is yalla Habibi I’m the only one
saying is yalla Habibi I’m the only one
saying is yalla Habibi I’m the only one in the Bronx that goes around saying
in the Bronx that goes around saying
in the Bronx that goes around saying yalla Habibi
yalla Habibi
yalla Habibi so yalla Habibi you feel alive seriously
so yalla Habibi you feel alive seriously
so yalla Habibi you feel alive seriously do you feel alive right every morning we
do you feel alive right every morning we
do you feel alive right every morning we wake up searching for what our purpose
wake up searching for what our purpose
wake up searching for what our purpose is right maybe we argue with ourselves
is right maybe we argue with ourselves
is right maybe we argue with ourselves we want to change every single morning
we want to change every single morning
we want to change every single morning why am I here what am I to do right what
why am I here what am I to do right what
why am I here what am I to do right what is my purpose you see we don’t just have
is my purpose you see we don’t just have
is my purpose you see we don’t just have one purpose we have many purposes in
one purpose we have many purposes in
one purpose we have many purposes in life I’m gonna guide you through two
life I’m gonna guide you through two
life I’m gonna guide you through two stories of incredible incredible heroism
stories of incredible incredible heroism
stories of incredible incredible heroism okay and me waking up one morning saying
okay and me waking up one morning saying
okay and me waking up one morning saying my purpose just fell into my lap and it
my purpose just fell into my lap and it
my purpose just fell into my lap and it changed me for ever everything the way
changed me for ever everything the way
changed me for ever everything the way that I look at life everything it’s
that I look at life everything it’s
that I look at life everything it’s about being a living donor and I know
about being a living donor and I know
about being a living donor and I know that there are many laws in this country
that there are many laws in this country
that there are many laws in this country and in the Middle East and in Asia and
and in the Middle East and in Asia and
and in the Middle East and in Asia and Timbuktu but I want you to forget about
Timbuktu but I want you to forget about
Timbuktu but I want you to forget about all those laws and I’m going to teach
all those laws and I’m going to teach
all those laws and I’m going to teach you two main ways to donate we heard
you two main ways to donate we heard
you two main ways to donate we heard about it earlier blood one main way if
about it earlier blood one main way if
about it earlier blood one main way if you haven’t done it go do it okay
you haven’t done it go do it okay
you haven’t done it go do it okay because there’s so much of us that we
because there’s so much of us that we
because there’s so much of us that we need to share to the outside world we
need to share to the outside world we
need to share to the outside world we can’t just keep it to ourselves we can’t
can’t just keep it to ourselves we can’t
can’t just keep it to ourselves we can’t be greedy right okay so you can be an
be greedy right okay so you can be an
be greedy right okay so you can be an adult donor okay or you can be a regular
adult donor okay or you can be a regular
adult donor okay or you can be a regular living donor to an infant Kenya here to
living donor to an infant Kenya here to
living donor to an infant Kenya here to my your right my left okay is a
my your right my left okay is a
my your right my left okay is a seemingly normal-looking 30 year old she
seemingly normal-looking 30 year old she
seemingly normal-looking 30 year old she woke up one day and both her kidneys
woke up one day and both her kidneys
woke up one day and both her kidneys failed so just imagine this I’m gonna be
failed so just imagine this I’m gonna be
failed so just imagine this I’m gonna be very wrong this is gonna be very raw
very wrong this is gonna be very raw
very wrong this is gonna be very raw presentation imagine you cannot urinate
presentation imagine you cannot urinate
presentation imagine you cannot urinate for 8 months of your life can you
for 8 months of your life can you
for 8 months of your life can you imagine that we need to drink water
imagine that we need to drink water
imagine that we need to drink water non-stop right
non-stop right
non-stop right it filters everything but when your
it filters everything but when your
it filters everything but when your kidneys fail and you’re put on dialysis
kidneys fail and you’re put on dialysis
kidneys fail and you’re put on dialysis if you’re not familiar with dialysis
if you’re not familiar with dialysis
if you’re not familiar with dialysis okay you go in for treatment take your
okay you go in for treatment take your
okay you go in for treatment take your blood out put new blood in okay for
blood out put new blood in okay for
blood out put new blood in okay for eight months this young beautiful soul
eight months this young beautiful soul
eight months this young beautiful soul could not do that three days a week 12
could not do that three days a week 12
could not do that three days a week 12 hours a day she sat in a chair bled out
hours a day she sat in a chair bled out
hours a day she sat in a chair bled out blood in and she struggled looking for a
blood in and she struggled looking for a
blood in and she struggled looking for a donor all of her family members went
donor all of her family members went
donor all of her family members went through the matching process and I’ll
through the matching process and I’ll
through the matching process and I’ll explain that in a second and she matched
explain that in a second and she matched
explain that in a second and she matched with a few of her family members but
with a few of her family members but
with a few of her family members but because she went through dialysis none
because she went through dialysis none
because she went through dialysis none of them could give their kidney to her
of them could give their kidney to her
of them could give their kidney to her because by the time she went in for
because by the time she went in for
because by the time she went in for dialysis that was it
dialysis that was it
dialysis that was it everyone was opposite of her so what’s
everyone was opposite of her so what’s
everyone was opposite of her so what’s called an organ exchange system okay and
called an organ exchange system okay and
called an organ exchange system okay and this might differ because there are laws
this might differ because there are laws
this might differ because there are laws over here where you can’t do that that
over here where you can’t do that that
over here where you can’t do that that should change that’s her cousin her
should change that’s her cousin her
should change that’s her cousin her beautiful cousin a living donor Leo so
beautiful cousin a living donor Leo so
beautiful cousin a living donor Leo so Leo matched okay and when time came for
Leo matched okay and when time came for
Leo matched okay and when time came for him to give his kidney to her he was
him to give his kidney to her he was
him to give his kidney to her he was denied so they went into a kidney
denied so they went into a kidney
denied so they went into a kidney exchange program with 16 other people
exchange program with 16 other people
exchange program with 16 other people okay and it’s completely anonymous at
okay and it’s completely anonymous at
okay and it’s completely anonymous at this point so eight people show up give
this point so eight people show up give
this point so eight people show up give their kidney eight people receive the
their kidney eight people receive the
their kidney eight people receive the kidney you don’t know where your kidneys
kidney you don’t know where your kidneys
kidney you don’t know where your kidneys going to it’s just going to the highest
going to it’s just going to the highest
going to it’s just going to the highest person that it’s matching so Leo gave
person that it’s matching so Leo gave
person that it’s matching so Leo gave his kidney to someone he didn’t know
his kidney to someone he didn’t know
his kidney to someone he didn’t know beautiful Kenya who received a kidney
beautiful Kenya who received a kidney
beautiful Kenya who received a kidney from someone she didn’t know because she
from someone she didn’t know because she
from someone she didn’t know because she had a 70% match rate with that person
had a 70% match rate with that person
had a 70% match rate with that person the moment that kidney connected to her
the moment that kidney connected to her
the moment that kidney connected to her urethra she started urinating
urethra she started urinating
urethra she started urinating immediately so eight months of not to
immediately so eight months of not to
immediately so eight months of not to immediacy that’s incredible and you’re
immediacy that’s incredible and you’re
immediacy that’s incredible and you’re trying you know maybe you might think to
trying you know maybe you might think to
trying you know maybe you might think to yourself will this affect me because if
yourself will this affect me because if
yourself will this affect me because if you’re thinking about becoming a living
you’re thinking about becoming a living
you’re thinking about becoming a living donor of course you’re gonna have
donor of course you’re gonna have
donor of course you’re gonna have questions I’m gonna tell you the
questions I’m gonna tell you the
questions I’m gonna tell you the questions that I did not have in a
questions that I did not have in a
questions that I did not have in a second but some questions can I eat
second but some questions can I eat
second but some questions can I eat certain things can I run can I jump can
certain things can I run can I jump can
certain things can I run can I jump can I swim well here’s a picture of Leo
I swim well here’s a picture of Leo
I swim well here’s a picture of Leo he loves yoga he’s doing headstand he is
he loves yoga he’s doing headstand he is
he loves yoga he’s doing headstand he is perfectly fine and he’s a hero he’s a
perfectly fine and he’s a hero he’s a
perfectly fine and he’s a hero he’s a great man for doing what he did so
great man for doing what he did so
great man for doing what he did so nothing will happen to you
nothing will happen to you
nothing will happen to you so let’s talk and here’s Kenya her first
so let’s talk and here’s Kenya her first
so let’s talk and here’s Kenya her first day back exercising was just last week
day back exercising was just last week
day back exercising was just last week and she got her kidney back in October
and she got her kidney back in October
and she got her kidney back in October 2016 so back to normal life
2016 so back to normal life
2016 so back to normal life it’s very easy very very easy so let’s
it’s very easy very very easy so let’s
it’s very easy very very easy so let’s talk about some taboos let’s talk about
talk about some taboos let’s talk about
talk about some taboos let’s talk about religion before I go into my next story
religion before I go into my next story
religion before I go into my next story because the first thing that I thought
because the first thing that I thought
because the first thing that I thought when I was sitting down wait does my
when I was sitting down wait does my
when I was sitting down wait does my religion say I can do this am I not
religion say I can do this am I not
religion say I can do this am I not supposed to do this so many people have
supposed to do this so many people have
supposed to do this so many people have that question during my research and
that question during my research and
that question during my research and also organs are huge on the black market
also organs are huge on the black market
also organs are huge on the black market it’s disgusting quite frankly it’s
it’s disgusting quite frankly it’s
it’s disgusting quite frankly it’s disgusting that people sell organs not
disgusting that people sell organs not
disgusting that people sell organs not for 15,000 not for twenty thousand US
for 15,000 not for twenty thousand US
for 15,000 not for twenty thousand US dollars they can go upwards of two
dollars they can go upwards of two
dollars they can go upwards of two hundred and fifty thousand US dollars
hundred and fifty thousand US dollars
hundred and fifty thousand US dollars that’s terrible
that’s terrible
that’s terrible it really is it’s sad but it’s it’s a
it really is it’s sad but it’s it’s a
it really is it’s sad but it’s it’s a fact it’s not a fact in the United
fact it’s not a fact in the United
fact it’s not a fact in the United States what is a fact in the United
States what is a fact in the United
States what is a fact in the United States that 21 people every single day
States that 21 people every single day
States that 21 people every single day die because they do not receive an organ
die because they do not receive an organ
die because they do not receive an organ I know it might be a lot higher over
I know it might be a lot higher over
I know it might be a lot higher over here but you shouldn’t have to come from
here but you shouldn’t have to come from
here but you shouldn’t have to come from a wealthy lifestyle to go purchase an
a wealthy lifestyle to go purchase an
a wealthy lifestyle to go purchase an organ it should just be there for you to
organ it should just be there for you to
organ it should just be there for you to me that’s the humane aspect of it so
me that’s the humane aspect of it so
me that’s the humane aspect of it so what does religion say every single
what does religion say every single
what does religion say every single religion says the exact same thing that
religion says the exact same thing that
religion says the exact same thing that it’s perfectly fine as long as you’re
it’s perfectly fine as long as you’re
it’s perfectly fine as long as you’re not doing any harm to yourself you can
not doing any harm to yourself you can
not doing any harm to yourself you can give and how amazing is that to give the
give and how amazing is that to give the
give and how amazing is that to give the gift of life every religion teaches us
gift of life every religion teaches us
gift of life every religion teaches us whether you follow religion or not I
whether you follow religion or not I
whether you follow religion or not I don’t care every religion teaches us
don’t care every religion teaches us
don’t care every religion teaches us that you have to do good to others do
that you have to do good to others do
that you have to do good to others do good to your brother and your sister
good to your brother and your sister
good to your brother and your sister your neighbor so I’m gonna do everything
your neighbor so I’m gonna do everything
your neighbor so I’m gonna do everything in my power to do that so let’s go on to
in my power to do that so let’s go on to
in my power to do that so let’s go on to the next story that’s my nephew that’s
the next story that’s my nephew that’s
the next story that’s my nephew that’s Thomas on your left my right that’s what
Thomas on your left my right that’s what
Thomas on your left my right that’s what he looked like when he was born
he looked like when he was born
he looked like when he was born and I remember I was working in
and I remember I was working in
and I remember I was working in Manhattan my family’s in Boston’s about
Manhattan my family’s in Boston’s about
Manhattan my family’s in Boston’s about four hours away and I got a call one
four hours away and I got a call one
four hours away and I got a call one morning from my father
morning from my father
morning from my father saying pray we don’t know if your sister
saying pray we don’t know if your sister
saying pray we don’t know if your sister is gonna make it or if the baby’s gonna
is gonna make it or if the baby’s gonna
is gonna make it or if the baby’s gonna make it she went in a week before her
make it she went in a week before her
make it she went in a week before her scheduled c-section
scheduled c-section
scheduled c-section I have probably 80 plus first cousins
I have probably 80 plus first cousins
I have probably 80 plus first cousins zero kidney donation and kidney disease
zero kidney donation and kidney disease
zero kidney donation and kidney disease in my my family so he was born with a
in my my family so he was born with a
in my my family so he was born with a very rare disease it turned out it
very rare disease it turned out it
very rare disease it turned out it wasn’t her kidneys that were failing was
wasn’t her kidneys that were failing was
wasn’t her kidneys that were failing was his so his disease is so rare that mom
his so his disease is so rare that mom
his so his disease is so rare that mom has to have this one cell and dad has to
has to have this one cell and dad has to
has to have this one cell and dad has to have this one cell and they have to meet
have this one cell and they have to meet
have this one cell and they have to meet do you know how much sperm goes inside
do you know how much sperm goes inside
do you know how much sperm goes inside during the fun time unbelievable but
during the fun time unbelievable but
during the fun time unbelievable but this one cell in that one cell met each
this one cell in that one cell met each
this one cell in that one cell met each other okay and so he was born with this
other okay and so he was born with this
other okay and so he was born with this his life expectancy was very very little
his life expectancy was very very little
his life expectancy was very very little okay so he has what’s called Auto Sonoma
okay so he has what’s called Auto Sonoma
okay so he has what’s called Auto Sonoma or recessive polycystic kidney disease a
or recessive polycystic kidney disease a
or recessive polycystic kidney disease a word I’ll simplify it what that means
word I’ll simplify it what that means
word I’ll simplify it what that means you got two kidneys back here right
you got two kidneys back here right
you got two kidneys back here right hundreds if not thousands of cysts just
hundreds if not thousands of cysts just
hundreds if not thousands of cysts just protrude and they just keep growing so
protrude and they just keep growing so
protrude and they just keep growing so you have an infant who just blows up all
you have an infant who just blows up all
you have an infant who just blows up all around what that hat what happens is it
around what that hat what happens is it
around what that hat what happens is it squashes his lung capacity he can’t
squashes his lung capacity he can’t
squashes his lung capacity he can’t breathe okay
breathe okay
breathe okay trach goes in almost on life-support if
trach goes in almost on life-support if
trach goes in almost on life-support if you will so they remove one kidney six
you will so they remove one kidney six
you will so they remove one kidney six months after he’s born hoping that that
months after he’s born hoping that that
months after he’s born hoping that that would help him breathe it didn’t just
would help him breathe it didn’t just
would help him breathe it didn’t just kept getting worse and worse and worse
kept getting worse and worse and worse
kept getting worse and worse and worse and worse so he has five million ants a
and worse so he has five million ants a
and worse so he has five million ants a whole bunch on my side a whole bunch on
whole bunch on my side a whole bunch on
whole bunch on my side a whole bunch on his dad’s side his mom is my sister and
his dad’s side his mom is my sister and
his dad’s side his mom is my sister and we sit down and we do what’s called
we sit down and we do what’s called
we sit down and we do what’s called matching so you sit there and it’s an
matching so you sit there and it’s an
matching so you sit there and it’s an open dialogue with the surgeons you ask
open dialogue with the surgeons you ask
open dialogue with the surgeons you ask whatever questions you want to ask and
whatever questions you want to ask and
whatever questions you want to ask and you know 45 minutes go through
you know 45 minutes go through
you know 45 minutes go through everybody’s asking their questions
everybody’s asking their questions
everybody’s asking their questions doctors look at me and this is where my
doctors look at me and this is where my
doctors look at me and this is where my New Yorker side comes out you’ve
New Yorker side comes out you’ve
New Yorker side comes out you’ve probably read bada-bing bada-boom
probably read bada-bing bada-boom
probably read bada-bing bada-boom I really do live by that motto in life
I really do live by that motto in life
I really do live by that motto in life this is the issue this is how we’re
this is the issue this is how we’re
this is the issue this is how we’re gonna solve it let’s get it done no
gonna solve it let’s get it done no
gonna solve it let’s get it done no questions asked so they came and they
questions asked so they came and they
questions asked so they came and they said okay I didn’t even know my blood
said okay I didn’t even know my blood
said okay I didn’t even know my blood type at this point I just said
type at this point I just said
type at this point I just said let’s go let’s test the very first time
let’s go let’s test the very first time
let’s go let’s test the very first time that I held him and he looked just like
that I held him and he looked just like
that I held him and he looked just like that over there he opened his highs for
that over there he opened his highs for
that over there he opened his highs for the first time and I looked at him not
the first time and I looked at him not
the first time and I looked at him not knowing what my blood type was what I
knowing what my blood type was what I
knowing what my blood type was what I was capable of anything of that nature
was capable of anything of that nature
was capable of anything of that nature it’s not so selfish by saying I so much
it’s not so selfish by saying I so much
it’s not so selfish by saying I so much and I looked at him and I said buddy
and I looked at him and I said buddy
and I looked at him and I said buddy nobody’s around and I said buddy I don’t
nobody’s around and I said buddy I don’t
nobody’s around and I said buddy I don’t know how I’m gonna do this but you’re
know how I’m gonna do this but you’re
know how I’m gonna do this but you’re getting my kidney one way or the other
getting my kidney one way or the other
getting my kidney one way or the other and then a few months pass the only
and then a few months pass the only
and then a few months pass the only people to match or his father and I that
people to match or his father and I that
people to match or his father and I that point I figured out I was oh so y’all
point I figured out I was oh so y’all
point I figured out I was oh so y’all need anything I got you covered with
need anything I got you covered with
need anything I got you covered with blood so at the eleventh hour
blood so at the eleventh hour
blood so at the eleventh hour his father was medically disqualified
his father was medically disqualified
his father was medically disqualified and that can happen so it was already
and that can happen so it was already
and that can happen so it was already scheduled for the transplant I get a
scheduled for the transplant I get a
scheduled for the transplant I get a call I’m supposed to go overseas in two
call I’m supposed to go overseas in two
call I’m supposed to go overseas in two days and I had a wonderful primary care
days and I had a wonderful primary care
days and I had a wonderful primary care physician who kept her office open till
physician who kept her office open till
physician who kept her office open till 9:00 ten o’clock at night and I sat
9:00 ten o’clock at night and I sat
9:00 ten o’clock at night and I sat there and I filled my EKG like four or
there and I filled my EKG like four or
there and I filled my EKG like four or five times she’s a great Nigerian doctor
five times she’s a great Nigerian doctor
five times she’s a great Nigerian doctor thick Nigerian accent Marty
thick Nigerian accent Marty
thick Nigerian accent Marty Tandang how can you calm down with
Tandang how can you calm down with
Tandang how can you calm down with somebody saying it like that to you
somebody saying it like that to you
somebody saying it like that to you thank God it was an old machine not
thank God it was an old machine not
thank God it was an old machine not connected to the actual computer so they
connected to the actual computer so they
connected to the actual computer so they just ripped up the pages we made it work
just ripped up the pages we made it work
just ripped up the pages we made it work okay where there’s a will there’s a way
okay where there’s a will there’s a way
okay where there’s a will there’s a way right I told that kid I was gonna give
right I told that kid I was gonna give
right I told that kid I was gonna give it to him so I passed fast forward a few
it to him so I passed fast forward a few
it to him so I passed fast forward a few months that’s the day before he goes in
months that’s the day before he goes in
months that’s the day before he goes in for surgery it’s incredible incredible
for surgery it’s incredible incredible
for surgery it’s incredible incredible incredible kid taught me so much right
incredible kid taught me so much right
incredible kid taught me so much right he’s smiling before he goes in so you’re
he’s smiling before he goes in so you’re
he’s smiling before he goes in so you’re probably asking yourself you’re such a
probably asking yourself you’re such a
probably asking yourself you’re such a big woman it’s okay I am on the big
big woman it’s okay I am on the big
big woman it’s okay I am on the big woman all right and you’re probably you
woman all right and you’re probably you
woman all right and you’re probably you know wondering how can your kidney fit
know wondering how can your kidney fit
know wondering how can your kidney fit in this little man right if you have a
in this little man right if you have a
in this little man right if you have a very soft stomach just close your eyes
the kidney on the right is his he had
the kidney on the right is his he had two of those hundreds of cysts kidney on
two of those hundreds of cysts kidney on
two of those hundreds of cysts kidney on the left is mine it’s teeny right
the left is mine it’s teeny right
the left is mine it’s teeny right so I hope that I’m gonna keep this up
so I hope that I’m gonna keep this up
so I hope that I’m gonna keep this up for a few more seconds I don’t want
for a few more seconds I don’t want
for a few more seconds I don’t want anyone suffering no child no person like
anyone suffering no child no person like
anyone suffering no child no person like Kenya suffering you know we have the
Kenya suffering you know we have the
Kenya suffering you know we have the ability to not only change ourselves
ability to not only change ourselves
ability to not only change ourselves but change the lives of others Leo did
but change the lives of others Leo did
but change the lives of others Leo did not only change the person’s life that
not only change the person’s life that
not only change the person’s life that he gave the kidney to but he changed
he gave the kidney to but he changed
he gave the kidney to but he changed Kenya’s life if it wasn’t for Leo can
Kenya’s life if it wasn’t for Leo can
Kenya’s life if it wasn’t for Leo can you wouldn’t have gotten the kidney and
you wouldn’t have gotten the kidney and
you wouldn’t have gotten the kidney and the other person wouldn’t have got the
the other person wouldn’t have got the
the other person wouldn’t have got the kidney if it wasn’t for me giving the
kidney if it wasn’t for me giving the
kidney if it wasn’t for me giving the kidney he wouldn’t be standing there
kidney he wouldn’t be standing there
kidney he wouldn’t be standing there like this today you know there’s an
like this today you know there’s an
like this today you know there’s an incredible book The Alchemist right I
incredible book The Alchemist right I
incredible book The Alchemist right I hope that everybody has read that book
hope that everybody has read that book
hope that everybody has read that book if not I hope you go back and you read
if not I hope you go back and you read
if not I hope you go back and you read it and there’s a quote in there but I’m
it and there’s a quote in there but I’m
it and there’s a quote in there but I’m gonna rephrase it to myself when we love
gonna rephrase it to myself when we love
gonna rephrase it to myself when we love okay when you give life and when we love
okay when you give life and when we love
okay when you give life and when we love period we change ourselves on a daily
period we change ourselves on a daily
period we change ourselves on a daily basis we make ourselves better and
basis we make ourselves better and
basis we make ourselves better and better we not only become heroes we
better we not only become heroes we
better we not only become heroes we become the person who changes not just
become the person who changes not just
become the person who changes not just the little boy’s life but his mom’s life
the little boy’s life but his mom’s life
the little boy’s life but his mom’s life everyone else’s life our friends lives
everyone else’s life our friends lives
everyone else’s life our friends lives so I hope that my talk has inspired you
so I hope that my talk has inspired you
so I hope that my talk has inspired you enough to go donate blood if you can’t
enough to go donate blood if you can’t
enough to go donate blood if you can’t donate a kidney or a piece of liver or
donate a kidney or a piece of liver or
donate a kidney or a piece of liver or anything that you’ll do something small
anything that you’ll do something small
anything that you’ll do something small and just spread the word thank you
and just spread the word thank you
and just spread the word thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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