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Ray Vetuskey, of Webster, New York, is marking what would have been the 100th birthday of the kidney his mother donated to him when he was 16. The transplant took place in March 1978, and the kidney is still functioning, making Vetuskey the longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient in Strong Hospital’s history, according to URochester Medicine.
Ray Vetuskey’s transplanted kidney is marking its 100th birthday while still functioning, 48 years after his mother, Betty, donated it to him when he was 16. The Webster, New York, resident received the kidney at Strong Hospital in March 1978 and is now the longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient in the hospital’s history, according to URochester Medicine.
Vetuskey’s kidney problems began during his teenage years. After doctors ran tests, he was placed on dialysis, but his kidneys did not recover. A transplant became his remaining option. His mother, Betty, then 52, offered one of her kidneys, according to the WHEC report.
The operation brought mother and son together in an unusual way: both were on gurneys before surgery, Vetuskey recalled. He said Betty reassured him that he should not worry because she had a concert to attend and would not miss it. He still has the calendar on which he marked the surgery date and the ticket stub from the Genesis concert he attended after the transplant.
Betty has since died. Vetuskey says he thinks of her every day and has honored her by naming a star after her through the National Star Registry. He visits Strong Hospital once a year for a check-up, the report said. His doctors believe the kidney may last for the rest of his life, though that is a projection rather than a guarantee.
A Transplant Lasting 48 Years
Vetuskey’s case stands out against the typical lifespan described by his transplant doctor. Dr. Miklos Molnar, director of transplant medical services at URochester Medicine, said a living-donor kidney typically lasts 15 to 20 years. The 48-year result is far beyond that range and has made Vetuskey a record-holder at Strong Hospital, according to the program.
The story also puts a personal face on organ donation. The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network says about 500 people in the region are waiting for a kidney transplant, with hundreds more waiting for other organ transplants. Vetuskey’s experience shows what a donation can mean to one recipient, while the figures point to ongoing demand across the area. One individual story cannot predict outcomes for other recipients, but it illustrates the potential for a transplant to provide many years of life.
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Betty’s Donation in 1978
In March 1978, surgeons at Strong Hospital transplanted Betty Vetuskey’s kidney into her teenage son. Ray had grown up in Seabreeze as the youngest of five children and described having a close bond with his mother. He recalled that she was widely liked in the neighborhood and said he believed she would do anything she could to help him.
According to WHEC, the transplant succeeded, and Vetuskey attended the concert he had planned to see. He continues to receive follow-up care at Strong Hospital, now on an annual basis. The report describes the kidney as a century old because Betty would have turned 100 this year; it has been in her son’s body for 48 years, not 100.
““I don’t think she gave it two thoughts, anything she could do to help her son, I think she would have done anything which she did in my eyes.””
— Ray Vetuskey, recalling his mother’s decision
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What Doctors Cannot Predict
The report does not provide a medical explanation for why Betty’s kidney has continued to function for 48 years, and the source material does not detail the kidney’s current test results. Molnar’s 15-to-20-year figure is a typical lifespan, not a fixed limit for an individual transplant.
Doctors believe the kidney could last for the rest of Vetuskey’s life, but its future function cannot be stated with certainty. The report does not give a specific forecast, additional medical details, or a precise date for the 100th-birthday celebration.
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Annual Checks and Donation Outreach
Vetuskey is expected to continue his annual check-ups at Strong Hospital. Those visits will allow his medical team to monitor the transplanted kidney; the report does not announce any change to his care schedule.
The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network is encouraging people to consider registering as donors. According to the report, people older than 16 can sign up, choose which organs and tissues they want to donate, and change or withdraw their registration later. The network’s outreach continues as people in the region wait for transplants.
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Key Questions
How old is the kidney Ray Vetuskey received?
The kidney is described as 100 years old because Vetuskey’s mother, Betty, would have turned 100 this year. It has been transplanted into him since March 1978.
When did Ray Vetuskey receive the transplant?
Surgeons at Strong Hospital transplanted the kidney in March 1978, when Vetuskey was 16.
Is the kidney still working?
Yes. The WHEC report says the kidney is still functioning 48 years after the transplant. Vetuskey visits Strong Hospital once a year for a check-up.
How long does a living-donor kidney typically last?
Dr. Miklos Molnar of URochester Medicine said a living-donor kidney typically lasts 15 to 20 years. That is a general figure, not a prediction for every recipient.
Can people still register as organ donors?
The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network says people older than 16 can register, select which organs and tissues they want to donate, and modify or withdraw their registration later.
Source: hn
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