Jesse Eisenberg is turning his passion for helping others into a life-changing act of kindness.
The Oscar-nominated actor revealed on the TODAY show on October 30 that he plans to donate one of his kidneys to a stranger this December. “I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks,” the “Now You See Me: Now You Donât” star shared. “I really am.”
Eisenberg, 42, said his decision comes from years of regularly giving blood. “I donât know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug,” he explained. “Iâm doing an altruistic donation in mid-December. Iâm so excited to do it.”
What Is an Altruistic Kidney Donation?
According to RWJ Barnabas Health, an altruistic donation occurs when a person donates a kidney to someone they donât personally know â often to a patient with advanced kidney disease. These donors are called non-directed kidney donors, meaning their kidney goes to a compatible recipient rather than a specific family member or friend.
“It’s essentially risk-free and so needed,” Eisenberg told TODAY.com in a follow-up interview. “I think people will realize that it’s a no-brainer if you have the time and the inclination.”
He also broke down how the donation system works. “Let’s say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City, and their child was going to donate but isnât a match, but somehow I am,” he explained.
“That person can still get my kidney, and hopefully that child of that person still donates theirs. It creates a chain that helps more people get what they need.”
Why He Chose to Donate Now
Eisenberg said the idea had been on his mind for nearly a decade. âI reached out about 10 years ago to an organization, but I never heard back,â he shared.
âRecently, I was talking with a doctor friend and told her I still wanted to do it. She connected me with NYU Langone Health, and I was in the hospital the next day for tests. Now Iâm officially scheduled for mid-December.â
The actorâs decision comes amid a growing organ shortage in the U.S., where about 90,000 people are currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Keeping Family Safe While Helping Others
Eisenberg also addressed concerns that donating to a stranger might endanger his family if they ever needed a transplant.
“The way it works now is you can put a list of whoever you would like to be the first to be at the top of the list,” he said, referring to the National Kidney Foundation’s family voucher program.
Heâs made sure his loved ones are protected. “So it’s risk-free for my family, as well,” he added.
The Social Network star joked that his love of donating blood continues, too. âI just have so much blood in me, and I feel like I should spill it,â he said with a laugh. âI really like doing it, and I donât know why.â
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