Marisa Codi

"During my career I've been lucky enough to be involved in hundreds of transplants. These patients are very dear to me, and it's a privilege to be able to care for them. I meet them for the first time on the day of their surgery so I need to connect with them quickly and establish a trusting relationship, assuring them they will be okay. I watch over them the entire time they are in the operating room.

I've been involved in kidney transplants for over 14 years. I work as part of the surgical team that removes kidneys from living donors. The team understands how special these donors are and there is an honor given to them for the sacrifice they are making. We know how important their gift is. We understand the risk they are taking to save another patient. Their loved one will live a longer, healthier life because of their donation.

One story that has always stayed with me was when I met a woman whose son was donating a kidney to her husband. It was a hard day for her, the two people she loved most in the world were going into surgery while she waited to hear from the doctors. She was scared, crying, distressed. I was able to spend time with her, to hold her hand and assure her that we were experts and would take the best possible care of both of them. She needed to cry and vent her frustrations, and I was the one that was there to listen.

We often have patients and family members who are stressed about the operation. Some patients just need a little reassurance. Others want to call a loved one on the phone or hold hands and pray. I'm happy to be able to offer them comfort through it, no matter what they need."