National kidney swap pilot program marks success

LEBANON, N.H. (AP) — A national pilot program that helps arrange so-called kidney exchanges has seen its first success with transplants performed in New Hampshire and St. Louis.

The United Network for Organ Sharing was created in October to facilitate “kidney paired donation,” where someone donates a kidney to a stranger so their friend or loved one can receive a compatible organ in return.

The project’s first transplants were performed Monday at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., and Barnes-Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis.

Cathy Richard of Henniker, N.H., donated a kidney to Ken Crowder of St. Louis. Crowder’s fiance, Rebecca Burkes, donated a kidney to Richard’s sister-in-law, Kathy Niedzwiecki of Pelham, N.H.