American Transplant Foundation Presents Hero Awards

When Steve Farber was 60 years old, his kidneys failed him for the second time in his life. He had a choice: find a kidney, go on dialysis, or die.

In order to find a kidney, he nearly went to a third world country, but miraculously his son Gregg gave him the gift of life by donating his kidney in 2004. These two remarkable individuals were honored Thursday evening at the inaugural Transplant Hero Awards. Also honored were Dr. Laurence Chan and Dr. Igal Kam for the “Patient Advocate Award” and Kaye Basedow, Russ Cupps, Adam Leventhal and Cara Yesawich with the presentation of the “Gift of Life Award.” As Adam so aptly put it in the video presentation of their journeys: “People tell me I was given two kidneys for a reason. Yes– so that one can be given to someone who needs it to stay alive.”

Steve’s journey caused him want to help others; hence he founded the American Transplant Foundation. True to Steve’s nature, he didn’t stop there–he also wrote a book with Harlan Abrahams entitled On the List, advocates for policy and legislative improvements and strives to help and encourage anyone he can.

And thus we are thankful and happy that we can say “Happy Birthday” to Steve, and hundreds of other transplant recipients, because of the miraculous and selfless acts of others.

The mission of the American Transplant Foundation is to save lives by reducing the growing list of women, men, and children who are waiting for a transplant. Since its founding, the Foundation has become the only non-profit in the country that provides financial assistance to the most vulnerable transplant patients and living donors by reimbursing them for lost wages after the surgery, and providing access to lifesaving medications. Through its Patient Assistance Program, ATF supports patients in 32 states with a specific focus on Colorado.