Kidney Donor and Recipient Meet for the First Time After Paired Exchange with Miami Transplant Institute and Renewal

By: Ruelle Champion

At 18 years old, Julie Wions suffered a toxic reaction to a psychotropic medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. The resulting kidney damage went undetected until a routine check-up when she was 25.

“Now, it’s been about 25 years of watching a slow progression,” Wions said.

The now 43-year-old lives in California and was put on a waitlist for a kidney transplant. While she was waiting, her kidney function declined and she prepared to start dialysis.

“There’s a 10-year wait time in Los Angeles,” Wions said. “A lot of people don’t make it by the time they actually get paired.”

While battling the clock to delay dialysis, she turned to her mother in South Florida. Through family connections, they found a neighbor who expressed interest in donating and got tested. The two weren’t compatible but a paired exchange kidney donation became a viable second option.

Paired kidney exchange programs allow willing donors who may not be a match for their loved one, to still donate to someone who needs it. In exchange, the original patient receives their kidney transplant from a compatible match.

Wions was entered into the paired exchange program with the nationwide non-profit called Renewal to receive a living kidney because of that neighbor’s generosity.

“About a year ago, my husband and I got screened with Renewal after learning our good friend’s father needed a kidney,” said Talia Lamet, Wions’ kidney donor. “All this time, I just stayed in the system until I got a call in February.”

Renewal is an organization dedicated to supporting living kidney donor transplant programs, paired exchange, people with kidney disease, and potential donors. The group has strong following in the Jewish community and screens thousands of people every year to find matches for those waiting for a transplant.

Once Renewal finds a match, a transplant center is brought in.

“This is the first time we’ve done a paired exchange with Renewal,” said Giselle Guerra, MD, medical director of the living kidney donor and robotic surgery programs at Miami Transplant Institute (MTI). “Paired exchange expands the opportunity for more lives to be saved and Renewal helps us find altruistic donors to make transplants happen. Providing the gift of life is priceless.”

The process for Lamet to donate her kidney to a stranger started after that call. After discussing with her family and going through extensive testing, she was cleared for surgery. She and Wions proceeded with MTI’s living kidney donor program and were scheduled for robotic surgeries on May 5, 2026.

“The robotic option for kidney transplant donors and recipients makes recovery a lot easier,” said Armando Salim Munoz Abraham, MD, kidney transplant surgeon at MTI. “We want our patients to get back to their lives and it’s rewarding to see that for Talia and Julie.”

Dr. Munoz Abraham and Mahmoud Morsi, MD, transplant surgeon at MTI, handled both surgeries robotically, which allowed Lamet to go home one day after surgery.

“I had a family commitment after surgery so I’m grateful that MTI was able to take good care of me,” Lamet said. “Now, I can go on and encourage others to give because it was so easy and convenient for me.”

Three months after the surgery, the pair finally met. The two families became one in Lamet’s living room, as her loved ones embraced Wions and her mother for the first time.

“My mom and I were searching for someone to save my life,” Wions said. “Because of kidney exchange, Renewal, MTI, and most importantly, Bonnie and Talia, I’ve been given a second chance.”

The moment became a true full circle when Renewal asked Lamet to support another altruistic kidney donor in South Florida.

She had no clue she would be at the bedside of Wions mother’s neighbor who matched with another patient needing a kidney transplant.

“It was a complete surprise but I’m grateful to be there for someone who helped connect us to Julie,” Lamet said.

Two people who were once strangers are now forever bonded by the gift of life.

“I thank her so much for saving my life and have immense gratitude for Julie’s generosity,” Wions said.