In early 2010, Laurie LoMonaco was watching a television show about a man who had donated a kidney altruistically. Her first thought was, "I can do that!" After two years of researching living organ donation and a year of testing, Laurie donated her kidney to a man she had only met once, over a decade ago, who was very ill and on dialysis. She said later that it had been easier to do the surgery than it was to tell friends and loved ones her plan. She did share her story with Paul Guyette, who was inspired by her gift. Paul became a donor at 42, and his floragraph will be on the float as Laurie walks alongside on New Year's Day.

Laurie's Story

In early 2010, Laurie LoMonaco caught a quick story on television regarding a man who donated a kidney altruistically. Her immediate thought was, "I can do that! I'm healthy, and I've always bounced back from surgery, so if I can, why wouldn't I?"

A paralegal by profession, Laurie spent the next two years researching donation. In January 2012, she initiated the process, and a year later, on January 23, 2013, she donated her left kidney to a relative stranger.

"He was not a close friend, family member or neighbor, but rather someone I had met once, over a decade prior, who was very ill and on dialysis," she explained. "It wasn't too difficult to find him and once we connected, he was in disbelief and even cynical. His doctors told him people would make offers to donate and then disappear. Not this time. I told him. If nothing else, we could at least test for compatibility. Imagine both our surprise when we found out we were! "

She noted that it was easier to actual make the donation than to explain to people what she was doing, and why. She acknowledged that "There is no simple way to ease into that conversation - not with my daughters, not with my friends, brother or the rest of my family."

In fact, Laurie didn't initially share her desire to be a living donor with a living soul, although she considered it many times. Once she did, she found her friends and family very supportive.

"Ultimately, I could not have asked for a more supportive and wonderful group of people in my life," she confirmed. "Without them, my donation and, more importantly, my recovery, would not have been possible."

One of the people who knew about Laurie's donation was her close friend, Paul M. Guyette. Her action inspired Paul, and he became a donor when he passed away at age 42. On New Year's Day, Paul's floragraph will be on the float as Laurie walks alongside.