A woman receives a life-saving kidney transplant from an unexpected source

Jill Buckley, 64, received a transplant from Jeline Chadwell, her phlebotomy technician at Cleveland Clinic Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center.

Although Jill Bukay has managed diabetes successfully for most of her life. She started suffering from kidney failure in 2019 when she was in her early 60s.

He needed a life-saving kidney transplant, and although many of his friends and relatives volunteered to be donors, there was no choice.

During that time, Bukay, now 64, makes weekly visits to the Cleveland Clinic’s Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center for blood collections. He befriended the phlebotomy technician, Jail Chadwell, who during his visit helped remove more than a dozen tubes of blood from Buccane. Whom he cared for far more than any other patient at the clinic.

“Most of the time, you will be taking three to five tubes [of blood] from a patient,” Chadwell, 22, told the clinic.

“When Jill came in, there were 13 tubes each time,” he recalls. “One day, I asked him, ‘Why am I drawing so much blood?'” After hearing Bukay’s story, Chadwell quickly realized that they had the same blood type. Inspired by his grandfather, who had died of cancer years earlier, Chadwell told Buckeye he would declare himself a donor.

“All is that one day I will be a donor. If I could, and I’m medically clear, I would,” Chadwell told the clinic, adding that he knew that he wanted to save lives one day as a child. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 13 people die each day waiting for a kidney transplant. And every month more than 3,000 more are added to the transplant list. Waiting for a donor can be difficult for many on the list. But after several tests at the Cleveland Clinic, doctors Buckay and Chadwell said they fit.

“At first, I thought she was 28, but she’s the most mature 22-year-old woman I’ve ever met,” Bucky told Chadwell.

He continued, “And people who are only 12 years old are thinking about becoming an organ donor? Prison amazes me.” Both recently had successful surgeries and Buki says he feels better than ever, thanks to Chadwell’s selfless decision.

“I feel perfect. I got a great kidney from Jaylin,” said Bucky. “It works great and will keep me young at heart forever!”