A non-profit organization is actively involved in assisting veterans in need of life-saving kidney transplants.
DOVE (Donor Outreach for Veterans Corporation), led by founder and executive director Sharyn Kreitzer, has successfully contributed to saving 30 lives since its establishment in 2020.
During an interview on “Fox News Live,” Kreitzer expressed gratitude for the support received from the Fox family and specifically mentioned Benjamin Hall, the interviewer, as their profile on the show led to significant outreach. As a result, 15 veterans have received kidney transplants since the airing of the program two years ago.
Currently, there are four veterans—Michael Boyd, Jermaine Ellington, Dathan Odell, and Jeffrey Garcia—who are in urgent need of kidney transplants.
Kreitzer encouraged individuals who are interested in finding out if they are a potential match to visit DOVE’s website, dovetransplant.org, for more information on how to proceed.
“If you’re not feeling like you could be someone who could be a donor, just spread awareness. So much is just letting people know that we have, most of us if we’re healthy, we have two kidneys, and we can live a normal life with one kidney and save someone’s life with our other kidney,” she told co-host Bill Melugin. “And we’re here to support all prospective donors throughout the journey. And it’s very gratifying to be able to give back to veterans in this very meaningful way. And it’s really my honor to be able to have this organization that is making such an impact.”
According to the founder, individuals who express interest in becoming donors will undergo a thorough medical screening to assess their overall health and eligibility for donation. If the potential donor is found to be a suitable match, they will be enrolled in the veterans’ transplant donor program and proceed with a comprehensive medical evaluation.
“All of the costs related to that evaluation are covered by the veteran’s insurance. And then organizations such as Dove help make sure that all of the other non-medical costs, such as travel or lost wages, are covered as well. We want to make sure that a donor has no disincentive to being able to donate,” Kreitzer explained.
“So we really try to provide as much support as we can to see that it can happen. And I can speak from personal experience because I’m a donor myself, and I do believe that giving feels so good. And as donors, we get so much from the ability to save someone’s life. And I feel healthier than I’ve ever felt. And I really do encourage anyone to consider learning about donation and making a decision if this feels like it’s right for them.”
