Meet Our Cast of Living Kidney Donors
Laura Diaz Moore, Park City, Utah
Laura donated her kidney in April 2019.
Laura Diaz Moore donated her kidney to a stranger in 2019. Although Laura has had many different jobs across the country, she landed her favorite job eight years ago as a Mountain Host at one of the biggest ski resorts in North America. Laura loves anything outdoors including snowboarding, hiking, walking the best dog ever Wolfgang, swimming laps, and taking photos of wildflowers and fall colors. She also loves attending a day game at Wrigley Field or Ice Bowl II at Lambeau Field and trying to keep her heirloom tomatoes alive at 7000 feet above sea level. Laura's favorite part of being a living organ donor is, like the Grinch, her heart grew three sizes that day.
Laurie Lee, Algonquin, Illinois
Laurie Lee donated her kidney in November 2016.
Laurie Lee lives in the Chicago area with her husband Rob, and cherished dogs, Hank and Katy. Rob and Laurie run a successful passport and visa expediting company in Chicago and have served hundreds of thousands of travelers. Laurie recently launched her second business GiftWorks, which serves the transplant community by helping patients gain access to transplant. As a non-directed kidney donor, Laurie’s kidney donation at Northwestern Medicine started a six-person transplant chain. And Laurie says her favorite part of being a living donor is the living donor community. Laurie is an avid traveler and SCUBA diver and enjoys exploring new destinations with her friends and family. She is a foodie, and loves oysters and fine foods, but will never be able to resist a Chicago hot dog with Lays potato chips.
Laurie Lee, Algonquin, Illinois
Laurie Lee donated her kidney in November 2016.
Laurie Lee lives in the Chicago area with her husband Rob, and cherished dogs, Hank and Katy. Rob and Laurie run a successful passport and visa expediting company in Chicago and have served hundreds of thousands of travelers. Laurie recently launched her second business GiftWorks, which serves the transplant community by helping patients gain access to transplant. As a non-directed kidney donor, Laurie’s kidney donation at Northwestern Medicine started a six-person transplant chain. And Laurie says her favorite part of being a living donor is the living donor community. Laurie is an avid traveler and SCUBA diver and enjoys exploring new destinations with her friends and family. She is a foodie, and loves oysters and fine foods, but will never be able to resist a Chicago hot dog with Lays potato chips.
Steve Wilson, Westchester, New York
Steve Wilson, Westchester, New York – Donated His Kidney in February 2020
Steve Wilson is a Financial Planner who advises his clients on all things financial, including retirement cash flow planning, asset management, insurance planning and tax strategies. Steve is married to Meg and has three adult children. Since becoming a non-directed kidney donor. Steve has remained active in the kidney community. He is an active member of Kidney Donor Athletes and National Kidney Donation Organization. Steve also is a five-time Ironman finisher and he had the thrill of competing in the Hawaiian Ironman World Championship with is two sons. Steve has twice summitted Mt Kilimanjaro, most recently in February 2022 with a group of 21 other living kidney donors.
Curtisha Grant, Arlington, Texas
Curtisha Grant, Arlington, Texas
Donna Kinsella, Westwood, New Jersey
Donna Kinsella donated her kidney in February 2020.
Donna Kinsella has been the Executive Administrator for the C-Suite at Ness Digital Engineering for 23 years. She lives in Westwood, NJ with the love of her life, husband Christopher Kinsella and two crazy cats, Max and Jack. Her biggest joy is begin with her 3 granddaughters, Cassandra, Sophia and Camryn. She is a high-heel shoe lover with more than 50 pairs (and counting). Donna loves fishing and has been the “pool winner” on various fishing boats over the years. Donna says her favorite part of being a living kidney donor is watching her kidney recipient turn from being a sickly man into a tall, svelte man living his best life. Donna gives all the glory for her donation to God!
Michael Speck, Sandusky, Ohio
Michael Speck donated his kidney in April 2016.
Michael Speck is a retired chemical engineer who donated his kidney to a stranger. Michael also coached middle school basketball (both boys & girls) for a total of 18 years and is a retired school bus driver of ten years. Michael owned and operated a 100-seat pizza restaurant near a Lake Erie resort for 18 years. After thirteen years, he repurchased the same restaurant and restored it to the original layout and décor for the resort’s 150-year anniversary. Michael is a father of four daughters and grandfather to seven amazing grandchildren. He enjoys motorcycle trips with my wife while visiting family and friends. Work is Michael’s hobby, his family the most important thing to him and God is a very personal mentor in his life.
Michael Speck, Sandusky, Ohio
Michael Speck donated his kidney in April 2016.
Michael Speck is a retired chemical engineer who donated his kidney to a stranger. Michael also coached middle school basketball (both boys & girls) for a total of 18 years and is a retired school bus driver of ten years. Michael owned and operated a 100-seat pizza restaurant near a Lake Erie resort for 18 years. After thirteen years, he repurchased the same restaurant and restored it to the original layout and décor for the resort’s 150-year anniversary. Michael is a father of four daughters and grandfather to seven amazing grandchildren. He enjoys motorcycle trips with my wife while visiting family and friends. Work is Michael’s hobby, his family the most important thing to him and God is a very personal mentor in his life.
Trish Phillips, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Trish Phillips donated her kidney in December 2016.
Trish Phillips decided to donate a kidney to her best friend Kimberly after witnessing her battle living on dialysis. Since her donation, Trish founded The Multicultural Miracle Donor Foundation and works to raise awareness of kidney health in multicultural communities. Trish also encourages people to sign up as a living and deceased organ donor, to be someone's miracle. She's a co-author in the book “Because of Organ Donation” and is a Member/Mentor for National Kidney Donation Organization. In broadcasting since April 1994, Trish currently is the General Manager of an AM radio station. She hosts a weekly radio show about kidney health and other health topics. Trish loves audiobooks, 10K races and reality TV shows.
Trish is sponsored by National Kidney Donation Organization
Shannon Catalano, Plano, Texas
Shannon donated her kidney in May 2018.
On a 2017 cross-country bicycle trip, Shannon Catalano finally said out loud that she wanted to be a kidney donor. Since donating her kidney to a stranger, Shannon founded a nonprofit in 2019 called the Lone Star Wheelers, a free community service that gives adapted bicycle joyrides to anyone that cannot pedal independently. She works for the National Kidney Donation Organization and runs the Dallas / Ft. Worth One Kidney Club. In 2022, Shannon climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with 21 other kidney donors to show the world that donors can live active, adventurous lives post-donation.
Shannon Catalano, Plano, Texas
Shannon donated her kidney in May 2018.
On a 2017 cross-country bicycle trip, Shannon Catalano finally said out loud that she wanted to be a kidney donor. Since donating her kidney to a stranger, Shannon founded a nonprofit in 2019 called the Lone Star Wheelers, a free community service that gives adapted bicycle joyrides to anyone that cannot pedal independently. She works for the National Kidney Donation Organization and runs the Dallas / Ft. Worth One Kidney Club. In 2022, Shannon climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with 21 other kidney donors to show the world that donors can live active, adventurous lives post-donation.
Ashley Clark, Spring City, Pennsylvania
Ashley donated her kidney in July 2019.
Ashley Clark is an elementary school counselor and college professor who donated her left kidney, (nicknamed Blanche (Devereaux)) to a stranger. She and her remaining kidney, aka Sophia (Petrillo, obviously), are proud members of living donor community. Ashley is married to her college sweetheart, Eric, and they now live with their four beautiful daughters- Addison, Stella, Esme and Waverly in the Philly suburbs. As a busy Mom, Ashley doesn’t have much time for hobbies, instead, she enjoys the chaos, lives on iced tea, loves date nights and reading way too late into the night. She thanks her family for their love and support, especially her parents. Ashley dedicates her performance to her recipient whose generosity changed her life for good.
Colin Goodbread, Boston, Massachussets
Colin donated his kidney in December 2020.
At the age of 21, Colin donated his kidney AKA:“Kidney McKidneyface” at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in his home state of Tennessee, surrounded by his loving and supportive family during the COVID pandemic. Recently he returned to school for a degree in nursing after working in clinical research after college. Colin notes as inspiration for this decision his wonderful experiences with nurses throughout the kidney donation process. Colin loved the introduction he received to the compassionate, meaningful work of healthcare throughout the donation process, and he is eager to continue helping others in the same way. Outside of work, Colin enjoys biking, doing ballet, and baking treats.
Colin Goodbread, Boston, Massachussets
Colin donated his kidney in December 2020.
At the age of 21, Colin donated his kidney AKA:“Kidney McKidneyface” at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in his home state of Tennessee, surrounded by his loving and supportive family during the COVID pandemic. Recently he returned to school for a degree in nursing after working in clinical research after college. Colin notes as inspiration for this decision his wonderful experiences with nurses throughout the kidney donation process. Colin loved the introduction he received to the compassionate, meaningful work of healthcare throughout the donation process, and he is eager to continue helping others in the same way. Outside of work, Colin enjoys biking, doing ballet, and baking treats.
Joe Walsh, Leeds, UK
Joe Walsh, donated his kidney in May 2019
Joe Walsh is a Housing support worker, husband and adoptive father. Joe and his wife Rio met at school and married at 19 before moving to Leeds together. They are actively involved in their church and are keen Christians. In his spare time Joe enjoys playing jazz piano and is memorizing jazz standards, currently working on 'Blue Moon'. In his free time, Joe also loves board games, Lord of the Rings, and long walks in the outdoors. Joe is currently working on teaching his daughter Myah to ride a bike.
Harold Mintz, Malibu California
Harold Mintz donated his kidney in December 2001.
Harold Mintz was one of the first living kidney donors, donating his kidney to a stranger at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. One of Harold’s favorite experiences in life is sharing his kidney donation story with high school students as a guest speaker. Harold is an expert pickle maker, collects vintage #13 billiard balls (approaching 100) and a sometimes actor in commercials in music videos in Hollywood. Harold says he is approaching retirement, but still enjoys two careers, one in the field of live events and one assisting his best friend from high school, a Hollywood comedy director, create media that moves people.
Harold Mintz, Malibu California
Harold Mintz donated his kidney in December 2001.
Harold Mintz was one of the first living kidney donors, donating his kidney to a stranger at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. One of Harold’s favorite experiences in life is sharing his kidney donation story with high school students as a guest speaker. Harold is an expert pickle maker, collects vintage #13 billiard balls (approaching 100) and a sometimes actor in commercials in music videos in Hollywood. Harold says he is approaching retirement, but still enjoys two careers, one in the field of live events and one assisting his best friend from high school, a Hollywood comedy director, create media that moves people.
Bethany Goralski, Washington, DC and Hannah Goralski, Chicago, Illinois
Bethany and Hannah both donated their kidneys in March, 2019.
Bethany Goralski is a critical care nurse and native of Naperville, IL. She has recently moved to the Washington, DC area where she works in the PACU recovering patients from surgery. Bethany’s hobbies include staying active by working out, trapeze and aerial yoga. Not only that, but she can hold a plank for more than eleven and a half minutes! She also loves traveling to new place and can never resist a Costco Travel package. Before moving from Chicago, Bethany performed as a background extra on the NBC television show Chicago Med. Bethany says her favorite part of being a kidney donor is all of the amazing people she has met through her kidney donation. She enjoys sharing her story and hopes to inspire other people about living donation.
Hannah Goralski is the Manager of Season Ticket Service at the Chicago Cubs, where she has worked in various roles for the organization for the past ten seasons. Hannah grew up in Naperville, IL, with her Mom, Dad (kidney recipient), older brother, Josh (her father’s kidney donor) and older sister, Bethany (also a living kidney donor). She attended Loyola University Chicago where she majored in Public Relations with a minor in Sports Management. After undergrad she went on to receive her Master’s in Sports Administration from Northwestern University. She currently lives in Lakeview East with her Portuguese Water Dog puppy, Rookie and she enjoys running and swimming.
