Remembering the Organ Donor

Several years ago, I was fortunate to receive a kidney donation. I have been very fortunate in that the kidney is healthy and functional. Shortly after I received the transplant, I asked another kidney recipient what he did to mark the anniversary of his surgery. Neither of us knew the identity of the donor or anything of their families. He mentioned that on his anniversary, he lit a yahrzeit(Yiddish) The anniversary of a death, usually marked by the lighting of a 24-hour yahrzeit candle and the recitation of Kaddish, the memorial prayer. For U.S. Jews, the unveiling of the headstone usually takes place on or around the first yahrzeit. candle. The day of my transplant happened to be my mother’s yahrzeit. On that date, I now light two candles—in memory to the two women who gave me life.