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Toddler Saved After Stranger’s Lifesaving Kidney Donation
DETROIT — Since high school, Amber Fandrey, 30, of Westland, has been passionate about living organ donation and its life-saving impact. 
That passion became personal after watching her fiancée, Shawn, go through the living donation process at Henry Ford Health three years ago. Seeing how smoothly his recovery went and how quickly he returned to normal life after such a selfless act left a lasting impression on her.
"He showed me that you can donate your kidney and live a completely healthy life after that. He runs marathons, ultra runs, so I would say he's doing pretty well," Fandrey said.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, one organ donor can save up to 8 lives and help more than 75 others through tissue donation. Right now, over 103,000 people are waiting for a transplant, and every 8 minutes someone new is added. Sadly, about 13 people die each day while waiting.
That reality hits close to home for the family of 2-year‑old Luna Miller, also of Westland. During her first birthday party in May 2024, Luna wasn’t acting like herself. Her family noticed swelling and puffiness, which they initially thought were allergies. Within days, however, her condition worsened.
Rushed to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Emergency Department, doctors there immediately suspected something was wrong with her kidneys. Luna was diagnosed with a rare condition: congenital nephrotic syndrome. Excessive amounts of leakage of protein were damaging her weak kidneys – and both of her kidneys had failed. Her doctors recommended Luna undergo kidney dialysis for 10 hours every night as she slept.
The two-year-old would need a kidney transplant to save her life.
Her family, unable to donate, turned to social media for help. That’s where Amber came across a Facebook post about Luna’s urgent need. Moved by the child’s story and inspired by her fiancée’s experience, she decided to see if she could help.
After completing the Living Donor Program interest form, Henry Ford Health contacted her the very next morning to begin the evaluation process. The Henry Ford Health Transplant Institute is one of the nation’s leading multi-organ transplant centers.
Amber was approved to become a living donor, giving Luna another chance to live a long and healthy life. On July 16, 2025, Dr. Atsushi Yoshida, division head of transplant surgery at Henry Ford Health recovered the kidney.
Then in a 4‑hour transplant surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Dr. Ahmed Nassar — a transplant surgeon also affiliated with Henry Ford Health — carefully placed Amber’s kidney into Luna’s small body. The kidney began functioning immediately. 
"Altruistic donation – giving an organ to a stranger – is extremely rare but an extraordinary act of giving,” said Dr. Nassar. “Luna's family and the transplant teams are extremely honored to celebrate and thankful of Amber for her life-saving gift of life.”
Amber’s nephrologist, Dr. Rohini Prashar, medical director of Henry Ford’s kidney transplant program, said living kidney donors undergo extensive medical and psychological screening and are supported by a dedicated transplant team focused on donor safety, recovery, and long-term health. Most donors return to normal activities within weeks and go on to live full, healthy lives with one kidney.
"Even though the donated kidney comes from an adult, a single healthy kidney is more than enough to do the job,” said Dr. Prashar. “Children who receive adult kidneys usually do very well, because the kidney adjusts as they grow. That’s why living donation can be life‑changing for anyone in need.”
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