Rachel Lentz left college for a quarter during her sophomore year to give a kidney to her mother Elizabeth. Says Liz, "This experience has given me a sense of wonderment and appreciation and faith in mankind that seems hard to find in these days of war and terrorism. The young and innocent in our society see the good and the hope."

Rachel and Liz's Story

Fifty-year-old Elizabeth Lentz had always been healthy. When her kidneys failed suddenly, her only hope for survival was a kidney transplant. As she and her family tried to cope, she became increasingly ill.

Elizabeth was suddenly offered hope when her youngest daughter, 19-year old Rachel, qualified to donate her kidney. The Lentz family did extensive research before Elizabeth would allow the transplantation to occur. The more they learned, the more despair changed to hope. “We viewed the surgery as a lifesaving event,” Elizabeth notes. “After almost a year of dialysis, could I dare dream that my life could return to some semblance of normalcy?”

And then there was Rachel to consider: “Rachel, with her flowing blond hair, was in the midst of her sophomore year at Ohio University, living in a dorm, meeting new friends, and enjoying a new-found independence,” says Elizabeth. “She cast all this aside, jeopardizing her education, and took off winter quarter to donate her right kidney to me. I know she was afraid, but more than that she was determined to save me. I was afraid for her, and me.”

For Rachel, despite her fears, the decision was easy. “I have always indicated on my driver’s license that I want to be an organ donor. I value life so much more now knowing how easily it can be taken away,” she confirms.

Since the surgery in 2004, Elizabeth has resumed most of her prior activities. She volunteers at LifeBanc, her local organ donor network, and retells her story so that others will know about the great need for organ donation. Recently, she was trained as a puppeteer to participate in the puppet show that LifeBanc takes to grade schools to introduce the children to the subject of organ donation.

“What a time to be alive when such medical miracles can happen. But it couldn’t have happened if my daughter didn’t have the courage and selflessness to offer such a generous gift,” Elizabeth says. “I am so proud of her and I believe she has discovered that she has the power to make great things happen in this world.

“My daughter and I often look at each other and can’t believe that a part of her lives in me, keeping me alive. Whenever I am acting silly I attribute my behavior to the fact that I have her young, teenage kidney influencing me from within. Rachel is my hero. She gave me the gift of life.”