By Deb Silverthorn

Sharing is caring, it is said, and Dallas community members have stepped up strongly to care — by sharing — as kidney donors to those in need. While Ellen Bock and Chani Rodin and Michael Graubard and Gavi Unger live only miles apart, the duos who’d never met are now tied for life — a life extended because heroes stepped forward with the gift of life after a January 2024 Renewal swabbing drive.

On April 29, Unger donated a kidney to Graubard, and on May 7, Rodin did so for Bock. Both donors and their recipients are recovering well and looking forward to long lives.

Graubard and Unger, who unknowingly sat in the same row during a kidney transplant informational session in January 2024, held before the swabbing drive, were a perfect match.

“I thank everyone — everyone involved — and I really just don’t have words,” said Graubard, the husband of Lisa, father of two and grandfather of one. “The kidney is working great, and I feel so much better.”

“I am amazed at how much better I feel, ”said Graubard, an electrical engineer whose transplant was at Baylor Hospital.

Graubard’s wife, Lisa Carren-Graubard, who calls the transplant “a new lease on life,” said, “Renewal’s team is doing G-d’s work. Ohev Shalom’s Rabbi Aryeh Rodin visited often, and members of the community delivered dinner for Shabbat when I got home from the hospital — and then food for weeks.”

“So many people looking out for us,” she said. “For all of us.”

Unger, an attorney with Hudson Advisors, is married to Emily (née Kane) and is the father of two. He had heard Renewal representatives speak, and his brother Yoel had served as a kidney donor a few years prior. Knowing the positive experience and recovery his brother had, Unger wanted to follow suit.

“The idea of saving a life — not just saving it, but changing it dramatically,” he said, “was something I wanted to do.”

“How many opportunities do we have in life to make such a difference?” he said. “To truly turn things around for someone. It wasn’t a simple decision, but I’m healthy, and I wanted to share that gift.”

Echoing the support of the Ohev Shalom community, Unger said both meals and babysitting offers have been flowing in, and he and his family are beyond appreciative.

Chani Rodin, wife of Rabbi Shalom Rodin and daughter-in-law of Rabbi Aryeh Rodin, was unable to attend the January swabbing event because she was at JET (Jewish Education Texas), where she leads the Sunday school program. She contacted Renewal and had a swab kit sent to her.

“When I was little, my neighbor was a bone marrow donor. It made a huge impact on me, and I hoped I’d someday help someone like her,” said the mother of four daughters. “I love helping people, and anything I could do to alleviate someone’s pain — I’d want to do.

“I feel like I was holding this left kidney since I was born. It wasn’t really mine; I was just holding on to it. It was always meant to be Ellen’s. 

“On my last birthday, my kids asked what I wanted to do this year, and my answer was this. I wanted this to work.”

For Bock, having the transplant done and successful is grace defined. Rodin was her third match in the last year; the other two did not move forward for undisclosed reasons.

“Whatever was supposed to happen, did, and I don’t question it. For Chani to do this is incredible. She’s a wonderful young lady,” said Bock, whose surgery was performed at Medical City Dallas. “It’s been a really rough couple of years — I’ve had health trials, I had to move, and I’m now looking for a new work situation. But for now, I’m recovering and look forward to moving on with life.

“Recovery takes time, but I feel better every day,” said Bock, the mother of two and grandmother of one. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to and making my way back to myself.”

In 2024, Susanne Rosenhouse received a kidney from Yehuda Kramer, and Linda Blasnik received one from Dr. Michelle Kravitz. Those matches also came from the 2024 swabbing event, arranged by Rosenhouse and Karen Schlosberg.

Blasnik and Kravitz’s children attended school together, and they have both attended Congregation Shaare Tefilla. Rosenhouse and Kramer, both attending Congregation Ohev Shalom, were actually standing feet away from one another during the swabbing event — none of them having any idea how their futures would cross.

“We’ve had great success in Dallas and hope to continue that stride,” said Rabbi Josh Sturm, Renewal’s director of outreach. “Tzvi Jacobs, our national coordinator, and Chana Greenfeld, our donor coordinator and a donor, each came for one surgery to make the patients comfortable and support the families. Their feeling about the community is very special.”

Brian Goldenberg and Tracey Messerly are still in need of a transplant and connected to Renewal. They look forward to the day their matches are found.

“It’s all about hope, and you can’t give up on that,” said Rosenhouse, the wife of Evan Rosenhouse and mother of two who’d been living with a rare kidney disease prior to her transplant. “I don’t know what any of us imagined would come from the swabbing drive, but it’s incredible.

“Even the Renewal team was surprised that four of us matched with four locals. We thought we’d get into the system and maybe match someone from somewhere. Four matching four from ‘around the corner’ is amazing,” said Rosenhouse, with Schlosberg planning another swabbing drive. “We hope Brian and Tracey will have success soon. You can’t give up on hope.”

For more information about Renewal, or to request a swabbing kit, visit renewal.org or email jsturm@renewal.org.