Kaye Basedow donates to Kelsey Crider

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jenny Thompson, Communications Coordinator

Phone: 303-757-0959; jenny@americantransplantfounation.org

Kaye Basedow recognized for donating to her kidney to a teenage girl after reading Boulder Daily Camera

BOULDER – September 23, 2013 – The American Transplant Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its inaugural Transplant Hero Awards, an event recognizing heroes who have exceptionally advanced the transplant community by saving lives through living organ donation.

Kaye Basedow stepped forward to give the ultimate gift of life to 19-year-old Kelsey Crider in 2009. After reading a newspaper article in the Daily Camera about Kelsey, a smiley teenager who vividly reminded her of her own daughter, Kaye knew immediately what she needed to do. Four years after donating her kidney, Kaye remains a vocal advocate for altruistic living donation. Kaye is not only a true transplant hero, but a lifesaving superhero to Kelsey.

Read the article that inspired Kaye to donate her kidney to Kelsey – http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13106500?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com

Awards will also be given to altruistic living organ donors Russ Cupps, Adam Leventhal and Cara Yesawich who each donated a kidney anonymously to save the life of stranger. Medical professionals, Dr. Laurence Chan and Dr. Igal Kam, who have impacted the transplant field through their advocacy for living organ donation, will be awarded the Patient Advocate Award. The Foundation received twenty-six inspiring nominations from twelve states.

Living donation inspired the creation of the American Transplant Foundation. As a result, instrumental change has taken place in the transplant community as the Foundation now helps the most vulnerable transplant patients through its nationwide programs. As a result, transplant patients, living donors and their families in 31 states have been supported through financial assistance.

The Transplant Hero Awards, presented by MDC Richmond American Homes, will take place on September 26, 2013 at the Pinnacle Club at the Grand Hyatt Denver. The Transplant Hero Awards is a special evening designed to support the American Transplant Foundation’s mission to save lives by reducing the growing list of women, men, and children who are waiting for a transplant by maximizing living donation.

Today 97,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant that can come from a living donor. Last year, 5,986 people died before receiving an organ that could have come from a living person. 5,986 deaths that were utterly preventable. The American Transplant Foundation is helping save these lives by providing valuable educational resources and financial assistance for potential living organ donors both locally and nationally.

For more information about the American Transplant Foundation’s Transplant Hero Awards visit www.americantransplantfoundation.org.

A special thank you to our event sponsors: The Chotin Foundation, Mike Shaw Automotive, Oakwood Homes, Porter Transplant Center, Sage Hospitality, Anna and John J. Sie Foundation and Iris and Michael Smith.