When Justin Stanford ’07 needed a kidney transplant, he searched far and wide for the best treatment, but he didn’t have to look far for a donor. His brother, Jason Stanford ’04, was ready to help.
“When someone is in need—especially a family member—you’re going to do everything you can,” Jason said.
Appears InJason teaches in suburban Chicago. Justin directs a middle school band in Las Vegas. They live nearly 2,000 miles apart, but their kidney donation journey brought them closer together. It began in 2017 when Justin learned his kidneys were failing. Their father had endured years of dialysis, and Jason was determined his brother would not suffer through the same. Jason joined the National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) and helped Justin conduct a countrywide search for the best doctors. They eventually booked their surgeries at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.
Jason was guided by another Redbird, Terri (Barker) Thede ’84. A kidney donor herself, Thede is vice president of the NKDO and oversees its mentoring program, which connects potential donors to living kidney donors.
“Jason was a delight,” Thede said. “He wanted to understand the process completely.”
In her role as Jason’s mentor, Thede kept in constant contact. “She’s like my second mom. She checks in on me every week. She answers all my questions,” Jason said. “I’m not her only mentee, but I felt like her only mentee.”
For Justin, a new kidney means a new chapter to his life. “I feel like I’ve been given an opportunity to be more present, more involved, and to keep up with family,” Justin said. “Jason being selfless and willing to donate his kidney was huge. He kick-started the entire process of donation, from being there to being willing to travel to being an active participant. He was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen.”
Jason called it an easy decision. “I know he would have done the same for me,” he said.
