Selina Hodge Arranges Kidney Transplant Through Craigslist (VIDEO)

Selina Hodge Arranges Kidney Transplant Through Craigslist (VIDEO)

First Posted: 12/14/11 01:44 PM ET Updated: 12/14/11 01:53 PM ET
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28-year-old Selina Hodge was spending nine hours a day on dialysis while she sat on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.

Exhausted with the wait, Hodge began to wonder if Craigslist might be a quicker way to find a match, according to WPTV in Miami.

Hodge posted her request in July and, after it received media attention, she soon heard from more than 800 people offering to donate. Finally, she met 23-year-old Florida resident Stephanie Grant who agreed to donate her kidney to help Hodge live a better life.

On Tuesday, doctors successfully performed a transplant and, according to WPTV, both women are now doing just fine.

According to the Sun Sentinel, the practice of looking for an organ donor on Craigslist is perfectly legal and occasionally successful.

A spokesperson for the United Network for Organ Sharing told the paper that some doctors encourage patients to try finding their own organ donors, as the small supply of organs from recently deceased donors is given to those deemed most in need. On the other hand, living organ donors can give to whomever they like.

After the transplant, Hodge told Miami TV station WPBF that she was overwhelmed by the response to her Craigslist ad.

"I'm so thankful, you know, letting me know there's still kind-hearted people out there in the world," Hodge said. "It's like, wow, people still care."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/14/craigslist-kidney-transplant_n_1148703.html