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Ray Vetuskey, 64, is marking what would have been the 100th birthday of his mother Betty, whose kidney she donated to him in 1978 when he was 16. The transplant is still functioning 48 years later, and URochester Medicine says Vetuskey is the longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient in Strong Hospital’s history.
Ray Vetuskey is marking what would have been his mother Betty’s 100th birthday with the kidney she donated to him still functioning nearly five decades after the transplant. Surgeons at Strong Hospital in Rochester transplanted the kidney in March 1978, when Vetuskey was 16; URochester Medicine identifies him as the hospital’s longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient.
Vetuskey, who lives in Webster, developed serious kidney problems as a teenager. He told WHEC that tests showed his kidneys were not working and he was placed on dialysis. When his kidneys did not recover, doctors advised that he needed a transplant. His mother, Betty, then 52, offered one of her kidneys.
Vetuskey has kept a calendar from March 1978 with the surgery date circled, as well as a ticket stub from a Genesis concert. He recalled that he and his mother were on gurneys holding hands before the operation. Betty reassured him that he should not worry and joked that she had a concert to attend. Vetuskey said the transplant succeeded and that he made it to the show.
Forty-eight years later, Vetuskey still has his mother’s kidney, according to the WHEC report. He visits Strong Hospital once a year for a check-up. His mother has since died, and Vetuskey says he thinks of her every day. He also had a star named after her through a national star registry as a way to honor her and the donation.
A Transplant That Defied Typical Lifespans
Vetuskey’s case stands out against the typical lifespan cited for a living-donor kidney. Dr. Miklos Molnar, director of transplant medical services at URochester Medicine, told WHEC that a living kidney donation typically lasts 15 to 20 years. Vetuskey’s graft has continued functioning for 48 years, well beyond that general range. The comparison describes a typical duration, not a prediction for any individual transplant.
The story also connects a personal account of organ donation with an ongoing local need. WHEC reported that about 500 people in the region are waiting for a kidney transplant, with hundreds more awaiting other organ transplants. The report said 72% of people locally are registered donors. Those figures were presented by the station as local statistics; the story does not specify their measurement date or provide a separate comparison baseline.
Nancy Ryan of the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network told WHEC that stories such as Vetuskey’s can prompt people to think about whether they want to donate. Her comments are an appeal to consider registration, not a guarantee that any single donation will produce the same outcome.
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Betty’s Donation in March 1978
Vetuskey grew up in Seabreeze as the youngest of five children. He described having a close relationship with his mother, whom he remembered as well liked in the neighborhood. When his health deteriorated during his teenage years, dialysis did not restore his kidney function, and a transplant became the remaining option described in the report.
Betty’s decision meant she could donate a kidney while alive. Vetuskey told WHEC he believed she would have done anything she could to help him. The operation took place at Strong Hospital in March 1978. The available report does not give further medical details about the procedure or the post-surgery recovery, but it says the transplant was successful and that Vetuskey has continued receiving annual check-ups there.
Molnar noted both the biological and emotional dimensions of a mother-to-son donation, pointing to their shared DNA as well as their family relationship. The hospital’s longevity distinction refers to its own transplant program, according to the report; it is not presented as a national or global record.
“Every day I think of her, doesn’t a day go by…She’s right by my side, all the time.”
— Ray Vetuskey, speaking to WHEC
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How Long the Kidney May Last
The kidney is functioning at the time of the report, but its future lifespan is unknown. Doctors believe it could last for the rest of Vetuskey’s life, WHEC reported; that is a medical expectation, not a certainty. The story does not provide recent test results, details about his current kidney function, or a clinical forecast beyond that assessment.
The report calls Vetuskey the longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient in Strong Hospital’s history, based on information from the hospital’s transplant medical services director. It does not establish that he holds a record beyond the hospital program. The local donor-waiting figures also lack a stated data date in the report, so they should be understood as figures cited there rather than a current, independently verified count.
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Annual Checks and Donor Choices
Vetuskey is expected to continue his annual check-ups at Strong Hospital, where clinicians can monitor the transplant. The WHEC report says doctors believe the kidney could last for the rest of his life, but gives no additional milestone date or planned change to his care.
The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network is encouraging people to consider registering as organ donors. According to the report, people older than 16 can sign up and may choose which organs or tissues they want to donate; they can also change or withdraw their registration. The next step for readers interested in the registry is to consult the donor network’s official information, rather than assume that Vetuskey’s unusual outcome predicts what another transplant will experience.
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Key Questions
Who donated the kidney to Ray Vetuskey?
His mother, Betty Vetuskey, donated one of her kidneys when he was 16. She was 52 at the time, according to WHEC.
When did Ray Vetuskey receive the transplant?
Surgeons at Strong Hospital in Rochester performed the transplant in March 1978.
Is the donated kidney still functioning?
Yes. The WHEC report says the kidney was 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 told WHEC that a living kidney donation typically lasts 15 to 20 years. That general estimate does not determine how long an individual kidney will function.
Can people choose what they want to donate?
WHEC reported that people older than 16 can register as donors and limit which organs and tissues they wish to donate. It also said people can modify or withdraw their registration at any time; check the relevant registry for current instructions.
Source: hn
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