How an Altruistic Living Kidney Donor Moved Forward by Giving Back

By Jennifer Cramer-Miller, Board Chair of Minnesota NKF and four-time kidney recipient

Sarah Kaspari dedicates herself to serving the teams that support Minnesota’s advanced heart failure and transplant patients and families. The professional compassion she brings to her position as Administrative Director of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Services, however, does not punch out at the workday’s end. Nothing exemplifies this better than the decision she made a few years ago. From the goodness of her heart, Kaspari offered her kidney to a stranger.

Why? She became inspired by a cherished friend, grief, and the healing circle of kindness.

The seeds of Kaspari’s living donor benevolence originated in her middle school years. That’s when she forged a loyal bond with a dear friend, also named Sarah. She describes their connection as “instantaneous.” Growing up together in Wisconsin, the two Sarahs shared their love of basketball, slumber parties, and ample laughter.

Sarah went through life with “a contagious laugh,” but it wasn’t without challenges. She lived with kidney disease from birth. 

“Sarah was always up for anything,” Kaspari said. “She was a character and loved like nobody else. She was fearless.” 

When Kaspari moved to Boston after high school, the two Sarahs remained friends. Then, in 2003, Kaspari’s father suffered his first of many strokes, eventually losing his independence in 2015. Sarah stepped up to become his part-time caregiver—bringing him to doctor and therapy appointments, lunch at his favorite restaurant, and sitting by his side as they cheered on the Packers. 

In 2016, Sarah’s kidney function deteriorated further, requiring that she begin the evaluation process for a kidney/pancreas transplant. Sarah never made it through the evaluation process as she passed away unexpectedly in 2016. Just over six months later, Kaspari’s father passed away.

Learn how to get ready for a kidney transplant.

Losing her close friend and father left an emotional gap—as she would have done anything to help either of them, including donating her kidney to Sarah. So, she searched her soul, asking what can I do?

The answer came clearly. She could honor the life of her friend and father by helping someone else. In 2022, after a successful donor evaluation, she channeled her grief into kindness and gifted her kidney to a stranger.

Kaspari doesn’t know who received her kidney, but she knows someone walks through the world today carrying an act of kindness, fueled by a cherished friendship.

Interested in living donation? Take NKF’s free online course, ‘Becoming a Living Donor’ to learn more.

Kaspari has been a nurse since 2007 but still had much to learn about living kidney donation.

“Even though I was a nurse with a friend who had kidney disease, I was not well informed about living kidney donation,” Kaspari said. “Not until I joined our kidney transplant and living kidney donor program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in 2019.” 

Now, she wants to spread her knowledge so others might consider learning more about living donation. 

Besides having a big heart, Kaspari has a big job. She’s the Administrative Director of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Services at Minneapolis Heart Institute and ANGMA Clinic Operations. She manages many moving parts to help support excellent patient outcomes. 

“Every person has their part,” Kaspari said. “That includes our scheduling team, financial coordinator, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, surgeons, nephrologists, and cardiologists. The work that these teams do is truly incredible—and inspiring. I genuinely love my job and the exceptional people that I am surrounded by. I’m very lucky to serve in this role and do this work.”

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