Elizabeth Morrissey

July 2, 2019

My life was saved nearly four years ago from my generous friend donating her kidney to me. Cathleen saved my life and I could never thank her enough for what she and her family were wiling to do to save me.
Though I still struggle with chronic and episodic pain from procedures, excisional biopsies and cancer surgeries, I would never give up living and am thankful every day!
In light of my challenges, I continue to cherish every good day and am so thankful to be here.

Thank You
Betsy

Update:
I’m so happy to announce that Weill Cornell’s Transplant team has located a very good kidney donor match for Betsy. Her living renal transplant is scheduled on 8/6/2015 at NY Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical College.

While her friends planned their Sweet 16’s, my sister, Betsy Morrissey (’84), struggled with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). During her freshman year at Sacred Heart Academy, Betsy went into sudden kidney failure. In 1981, after a grueling stretch of dialysis, she received the most precious gift of all – a kidney from our mother. Over the next 18 years, Betsy required two additional kidney transplants (1992,1999) — her second gift-of-life came from a cousin and the third donor was our father, a colon cancer survivor.

Today, 34 years after her initial diagnosis, Betsy is facing a terrible crisis: the one kidney she has is failing; she is in need of a fourth transplant. Anyone who knows her will tell you — it is impossible to imagine life without Betsy.

Although she suffered many setbacks and complications related to kidney disease, Betsy graduated high school on time and went on to receive a degree in Business and Pre-Med from Adelphi University. Betsy has held several positions in the medical field including the field of immunology research, and later she completed Cornell Medical School’s Physician Assistant Program and worked in the surgical department at Lenox Hill and NY Presbyterian Hospitals — a job she loved. Betsy offered unique insight, compassion and support to her patients as both a patient and a medical provider.

Now Betsy works on behalf of patients, who like herself, have bravely faced life-threatening illnesses. She worked as a spokesperson for the Make a Wish Foundation and is active on the board of TRIO, an organ transplant recipient organization. She is a loving daughter, a devoted aunt to my three young boys, and a compassionate friend. She inspires everyone with her positive attitude and the objectivity with which she views her disease. Devoid of self-pity, Betsy projects empathy, kindness and generosity.

Even with insurance, Betsy will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits and the costly immuno-suppressant medications that she will need to take for the rest of her life.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Betsy’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the New York Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today by clicking the DONATE NOW bar.

We are hoping to find a miracle… a living donor, who at very little risk to himself/herself, would be willing to share the gift of life with my sister. Betsy needs a type O donor. For anyone who wishes to be tested, please contact Andrea Rivas-Javier at NY Presbyterian Hospital, (212)-746-3922

With deepest gratitude,

Courtney Morrissey Brennan