By Patrick Whittle
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine — A Maine man who responded to a plea for a kidney donation that he saw painted on a car window is scheduled to have the surgery next week.
Joshua Dall-Leighton of Windham said the surgery will take place June 16 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Hospital spokeswoman Matt Paul confirmed on Monday that the living kidney donation is scheduled for that day.
Dall-Leighton responded to the plea for a donor on South Portland resident Christine Royles’ car. But the surgery was delayed by medical and legal hurdles, including crowdsourced donations to Dall-Leighton aimed at defraying his expenses. Paul said those concerns have been addressed.
Dall-Leighton, a corrections officer, said on Monday that he’s not nervous about undergoing the procedure, and is hopeful the transplant will go through without complication. He said Royles, who is suffering from kidney failure, is scheduled to receive the organ on the same day.
“I’m excited for her to get her life back and her son to have his mom,” Dall-Leighton said. “I just hope it works, that’s the only thing I’m nervous about.”
Hospital officials said in April they needed time to determine if the donation violated the National Organ Transplant Act, which forbids potential donors from profiting from a donation. A crowdfunding website set up for the donation has raised more than $49,000. Royles also organized fundraisers to pay bills and reimburse Dall-Leighton’s time away from work.
Paul said an external legal review confirmed that the transplant “will comply with federal laws that are designed to regulate organ transplants and protect living donors.”
Royles didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Dall-Leighton said the two are in contact via phone and social media and have seen each other a couple of times in the last few months.
The crowdfunding website says Royles is “healthy enough to have the transplant.”