SAN ANTONIO—Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio honored Lindsey Painter, a teacher who donated one of her kidneys to a student in her first-grade class.
Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio honored Lindsey Painter, a teacher from New Braunfels who donated one of her kidneys to Matthew Parker, a student in her first-grade class. She is pictured with her husband, Kevin, and their two sons—Owen, 10, and Landon, 7. (Photo by Stephanie Friedman)Painter received the foundation’s Spirit of Health Award, presented annually to someone who has contributed to improving community health. Painter merited the honor for saving her student’s life and spotlighting living organ donation by sharing her story.
Matthew Parker, a student in Painter’s first-grade class at Hoffman Elementary School near New Braunfels, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. A previously transplanted kidney was failing, and he was able to attend class only two days each week due to dialysis treatments three days a week.
Matthew’s parents, who had been searching for a donor about two years, took their search to the media. When Painter became aware of their situation, she volunteered to be tested. Hospital personnel told her there was only a 1 percent chance she would be a match or even that a second donor would be found for Matthew.
On Christmas Eve last year, Painter received the call saying matched Matthew. She began the long process of preparing for the kidney donation, using her personal time to undergo testing, blood work and other screenings prior to the transplant. Following a successful surgery March 19, both Painter and Matthew have recovered and are back at school five days a week.
Her story received widespread coverage in national media, ranging from ABC News to People magazine. Painter lives in New Braunfels with her husband, Kevin, and their two sons—Owen, 10, and Landon, 7.
In her honor, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio will donate $500 to Transplants for Children, an organization that assists children and families with the challenges associated with organ transplantation.
Previous recipients of the Spirit of Health Award include Fernando Guerra, former director of health for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District; George Gaston, retired vice president of mission and ministry for Baptist Health System; and Jim Potyka, a former Baptist Health System emergency department physician.
Although she is not a medical professional, Painter’s contributions to improving the health of the community are significant, said Cody Knowlton, president and CEO of Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio.
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“Mrs. Painter’s selfless gift to her student not only saved the life of a 6-year-old boy, but also helped educate the world about living organ donation through her experience,” Knowlton said. “Her story sparks inspiration and encouragement to those needing organ transplants and those who can help them.”
Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio was established in September 2004 from sale proceeds of the Baptist Health System to Vanguard Health Systems of Nashville, Tenn. The foundation distributes grants annually to not-for-profit organizations that provide healthcare services and health education throughout Bexar County and surrounding counties in South Texas.
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