Kidney donated through Craigslist doing fine

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Kidney donated through Craigslist doing fine
 
First published: Sunday, March 30, 2008

The kidney that Georgette Saiid of Brunswick found on Craigslist is doing great.
 
Saiid's kidney was donated by Adrienne Pardini, of Rensselaer, who saw an ad posted on the Internet site by Saiid's daughter.

The ad said "My mother is only 44 years old and is suffering kidney failure and has just started dialysis. ... She is an absolutely amazing person and anyone that helps her would be proud to know they've helped such a wonderful, deserving woman."

Pardini, a stranger, answered the ad. Pardini's kidney was transplanted into Saiid on Jan. 29, 2007. A year later, both women are faring well.

Saiid has suffered other health problems that have kept her from returning to work as a receptionist at a doctor's office, but her kidney has held up wonderfully.

Pardini is in good health and still drinking cosmos. Her remaining kidney grew 30 percent larger to make up for the missing organ. The growth is expected when a kidney is removed.

Pardini moved to California after the surgery but her job didn't work out and she returned to the Troy area earlier this month. She is renting an apartment from Saiid. Because exchanging money for an organ is illegal, Pardini was quick say that she is paying Saiid $825 a month to rent the apartment.

"This is where I'm supposed to be," Pardini said of her move back to the Capital Region.

The former nurse recently left a management job and is looking to return to a job in the health care industry.

"I'm glad she came back," Saiid said.

The women became fast friends when they first met, and they talk by phone two or three times a month. On the anniversary of the surgery, Pardini sent chocolates and fruit to Saiid, and Saiid sent Pardini flowers and baklava.

Pardini, who promised to add a new tattoo to her collection in honor of the kidney transplant, hasn't done it yet.

Life has been too busy, she said.

-- Cathleen F. Crowley

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