A Heavenly Match: Local Nurse Donates Kidney to Fellow Churchgoer

As a pre-teen, Annakay Dennis, now 24, was diagnosed with lupus, a condition that led to kidney failure. For two years, Annakay received dialysis care at WMCHealth's HealthAlliance Hospital as she waited for a life-changing organ donation.

Jennifer Buda, 35, is a nurse working out of the VA Hospital at Castle Point. She is also a congregant, like Annakay, of the Abundant Life Tabernacle Church in Kingston. After watching Annakay struggle with her condition, Jennifer offered Annakay the gift of a better life through a kidney donation. The transplant procedure at Westchester Medical Center was a success Jennifer went home the next day - and both are doing well after discharge.

While Westchester Medical Center's kidney transplant team performs dozens of successful kidney procedures each year, the story of Annakay and Jennifer is a special one because the participants are rarely unrelated (only three in the past five years at Westchester Medical Center) either through blood or marriage.

Just five days after the procedure Annakay and Jennifer returned to Westchester Medical Center for routine check-ups and meetings with local news outlets to discuss the importance of organ donation.

Jennifer Buda (L) and Annakay Dennis (R) just prior to their kidney transplant procedure

Annakay Dennis (L) and Jennifer Buda (R) returned to Westchester Medical Center five days after their successful kidney transplant operation.