Jill Pinkelman and Budd Springer live 1,200 miles apart and had never met. But in 2023, the Nebraska woman made the selfless decision to give one of her kidneys to a veteran in need.

Budd was the fortunate recipient of this life-saving gift. In March 2023, Jill’s kidney was transplanted into the South Jersey resident at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

“Jill didn't know me, but she wanted to donate to a veteran. That just touched my heart,” said Budd, a retired lieutenant colonel who served 36 years in the New Jersey Army National Guard.

Jill was moved to help after reading about Donor Outreach for Veterans (DOVE), a New Jersey-based organization that matches former service members with living donors nationwide.  

“If you’re a veteran in need, you should be supported by your country and by other people,” said Jill. “For me, this was just the right thing to do.”

“The transplant changed my life,” beamed Budd. “It’s made it so good.”

Budd’s kidney transplant journey

The grandfather of nine had been enjoying an active retirement from both the military and his job as facilities director for Cape May County. Budd and his wife, Lorraine, traveled frequently, and he’d begun working for Habitat for Humanity.

Most people don’t know they have kidney disease until it becomes advanced, said Anita Mehrotra, MD, Budd’s transplant nephrologist at Virtua. “It’s a very common condition, but people can go for years without noticing symptoms,”

In Budd’s case, he worked closely with specialists to slow the disease’s progression through diet, exercise, and medication. He also was evaluated by Virtua Advanced Transplant & Organ Health for kidney transplantation and was placed on the waiting list for a deceased-donor kidney transplant. Eventually, though, he needed dialysis.

“You can't live a normal lifestyle on dialysis,” said Budd. “It's very invasive and uncomfortable. It restricts your ability to travel and do things.”

Budd hoped for a transplant to restore his health. But he’d been unable to find a living donor who could shorten his wait for a kidney and felt uncertain about his future.

“I want to spend time with my grandchildren,” he said. “I want to be there to teach them and help them through life. And for my children, even though they're grown up. And I want to spend quality time with my wife, especially.”

Matching with Jill

“Our team encouraged Budd to contact DOVE to help him find a living donor,” said Dr. Mehrotra. “We’ve been associated with them for several years now, and we’re grateful they were able to connect Budd and Jill.”

The two underwent extensive testing to ensure their blood and tissue were compatible, among other health criteria.Budd learned of the match while riding in a car with family members.

“I answered the phone and they said, ‘This is DOVE, and we have a donor for you. You’re going to have a new kidney on March 23rd’—which was just two weeks later,” he recalled.

The vehicle quickly filled with laughter and joyful tears. “It was just amazing,” said Budd.

Supporting our troops

Jill learned about living kidney donation from a story in Woman’s Day magazine. Written by a DOVE kidney donor, the piece was titled “She Saved a Stranger’s Life.”

“I read the article in November, and by January I was getting tested,” said Jill. “I said to myself, ‘I could do that!’”Her husband, Daryl Johannsen, was immediately supportive, noting that both are volunteer first responders. “I’m a firefighter and Jill is an EMT. We’re about saving lives,” he said.

Jill also was motivated by the sacrifices of veterans she knows, including friends who’ve struggled with PTSD after serving in Iraq.

“I’d want to do anything I could to help them,” she said. “People give a lot of lip service about supporting our troops, but how many do something about it?”

Additionally, Jill’s father served in the National Guard. He was also a longtime volunteer firefighter, as is her brother. Sadly, her uncle recently succumbed to kidney disease.

“I wanted to give back for all the people who’ve helped me throughout my life,” she stated.

Budd receives his kidney transplant

The Virtua team and Jill’s hospital—Avera Transplant Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota—coordinated the donor and recipient surgeries to occur on the same day. Jill’s kidney was quickly flown to Philadelphia and then transported to Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes in Camden.

Within just 11 hours of Jill’s procedure, Virtua transplant surgeons Ely Sebastian, MD, and Ann Thompson, DO, began Budd’s two-and-a-half-hour transplant.

The organ started working immediately inside Budd, who recovered quickly. “Once I left the hospital, I never took a pain pill. I could walk, I could take care of myself—it was amazing,” he said.

“My experience with Virtua Advanced Transplant & Organ Health has been fantastic,” Budd added. “From helping me stay on the transplant list, to doing all the testing and organizing, to actually getting the transplant, and then the care afterward—they’ve been wonderful.”

His wife Lorraine is equally grateful. “I can’t believe where we are today. It’s like a whole new life since the transplant,” she said.

As for Jill, she felt fine just three weeks after surgery. She soon returned to her active lifestyle, including work, frequent travel, and weightlifting. “I can still do whatever I want to do,” she noted.

An emotional get-together

In May 2024—a year after the transplant—Budd, Jill, and their spouses met for the first time during a celebration at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes. About 70 other veterans, hospital staff, and supporters were moved to tears as the pair shared their inspiring stories.

“I still can't believe that I got a living kidney from this wonderful lady who doesn't know me, and she just did it out of the kindness of her heart,” said Budd. “It’s just unbelievable.”

“Budd can travel and see his grandkids. He’s able to live his life again,” Jill observed. “It feels incredible knowing that I helped another human being live!”

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