Maine Man Who Responded to Kidney Donation Ad Set for Surgery

A Maine man who responded to a plea for a kidney donation that he saw painted on a car window says the surgery is scheduled for next week.

Joshua Dall-Leighton of Windham tells The Associated Press that the surgery will take place June 16 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Hospital spokeswoman Susan Pierter did not immediately confirm Monday the surgery was on.

Dall-Leighton responded to a plea for a donor on South Portland resident Christine Royles' car.

But the surgery was delayed because of crowd-sourced donations to Dall-Leighton aimed at defraying his expenses. Hospital officials said they needed time to determine if the donations violated the National Organ Transplant Act, which forbids potential donors from profiting from a donation. Royles also organized fundraisers to pay bills and reimburse Dall-Leighton's time away from work.

Maine Medical Center spokesman Matt Paul said in April that the hospital remained optimistic it would "be in a position to perform a successful operation."

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."

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."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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