Daily News readers opened their hearts to little Kinsey Saleh, offering the Queens kindergartner the ultimate gift of life – one of their healthy kidneys.
More than 60 strangers- some as far away as South Carolina and Florida – contacted Mount Sinai Hospital asking to be Kinsey’s organ donor after reading about her heartbreaking plight in the News on Monday.
“We have never had a response like this before,” said Dianne LaPointe Rudow, the director of Mount Sinai’s Center for Living Donation. “It’s been very exciting. Her chances of getting a kidney have been greatly enhanced now.”
Rudow said about 20 of the callers said that even if they turned out not to be a match for Kinsey, they would be willing to donate a healthy kidney to someone else in need of a transplant.
The News’ story described Kinsey’s battle with end stage kidney failure – a rare disease that strikes only 15 children in 1 million in the U.S. There are presently 73 children waiting for a kidney transplant in New York state, according to UNOS, the organization that manages the national transplant list.
Last December, after a perfectly healthy childhood, her mother, Nadine Morsi, became concerned when her spunky girl could barely run a block, and was complaining of pain in her legs.
Blood work showed her kidneys were failing, her life in danger. She was hospitalized at Cohen Children’s Medical Center for two weeks, where the pint-size pixie endured four surgeries and blood transfusions.
She has been undergoing gruelling dialysis after school three days a week since Feb 1 and will decline the longer she has to wait for a transplant.
Morsi, 38, was crushed when doctors ruled her out as a donor for her child, even though she shared her B bloodtype. She has a blood clotting disorder that would put her life at risk if she underwent surgery.
Kinsey’s dad also was a blood match, but was ruled out because of a history of kidney stones.
Donors need to be between the age of 18 and 60, in excellent health and have type “B” or “O” blood to be considered as a donor to Kinsey.
Morsi, who is divorced and raising Kinsey alone, was overwhelmed by the public’s generosity.
“Holy Cow!” she shouted, when she learned of the tidal wave of offers to Mount Sinai’s donation hotline. “I’d like to thank the Daily News and everyone who has come forward. I am incredibly touched by everybody who has offered to help – particularly people who have no tie to my daughter and were just touched by her story.”
Morsi also heard from readers who posted messages on the “Kidney for Kinsey” Facebook page set up by family friends.
A man named Robert wrote: Hi, I just read about Kinsey in today’s Daily News. I am going to find out about my blood type. I pray that I can help.
And from Monica: “I would like to be tested.I think I might be a match. I have B plus blood and I am in very good health as far as a I know.”
Pitch In For Kinsey:
For more information on becoming a kidney donor, call (212) 659-8024 or visit www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/service-areas/organ-transplants
To donate money for her medical care:
Kidney for Kinsey
PO BOX 640333
Oakland Gardens NY 11364 to send donations
