By creator to thejewishnews.com
They met as teenagers at BBYO; years later their lives intersected in a profound approach.
Alicia Chandler and Lesley Miles met as teenagers at BBYO. Alicia went to North Farmington Excessive College and Lesley went to Berkley. After commencement, they every went their separate methods.
Little did they know again then how their paths would cross once more 20 years down the street after they linked once more on Fb, sharing gadgets about their busy lives.

Alicia was married to Jeff Chandler and elevating two kids, 11-year-old Brady and 9-year-old Morgan, in Birmingham. An lively group member and president of the JCRC/AJC, Alicia had left her place as a well being care lawyer to check for her grasp’s diploma in Jewish training and Jewish research by way of a distance-learning course from Hebrew School, Boston. Her purpose is to seek the advice of with organizations who assist interfaith {couples} navigate household life.
Lesley had been working in pharmacy-related well being help companies and residing together with her associate, Andy Kitchen. She and her youthful brother have been born with a kind of polycystic kidney illness that impacts the kidneys and the liver. When her brother was 6 years outdated, he obtained a kidney and liver transplant.
Lesley had lived with worsening however manageable kidney illness till now. Her kidney well being was declining. After a medical analysis, her nephrologist instructed her that she would want to begin dialysis. In fall 2018, Lesley posted on her Fb web page that she wanted a brand new kidney.
Alicia noticed the put up and instructed her household that she wished to be examined as a possible donor. Her mother-in-law survived kidney most cancers, and her husband, Jeff, has served on the volunteer committee for the Kidney Ball, a Nationwide Kidney Basis of Michigan (NKFM) annual fundraiser. He has additionally been elected to the NKFM volunteer board of administrators.
“The probability of somebody popping up from my previous who wanted a kidney was low, and it felt like this was what I used to be meant to do,” Alicia mentioned. “I considered the Jewish worth of pikuach nefesh, to avoid wasting a life. I believed the chance to assist Lesley was a blessing.”
A yr later, after a prolonged well being analysis, Alicia was confirmed as a kidney donor match for Lesley. Alicia reached out to inform Lesley the excellent news.
“It’s a type of issues that’s troublesome to place into phrases,” Lesley mentioned. “‘Thanks’ simply isn’t sufficient. She did it as a result of she wished to. I’m simply so lucky to have had her come ahead.”
Not lengthy after, Alicia skilled some well being points and underwent gallbladder surgical procedure. She needed to look forward to medical clearance earlier than she may transfer ahead with the transplant.
Whereas Alicia recovered from surgical procedure, Lesley underwent 4 surgical procedures to organize certainly one of her arms for dialysis, which she would begin in January 2020, hoping it could solely must be momentary.
By the tip of December, Alicia was medically cleared for transplant surgical procedure. “Even after her gallbladder surgical procedure, she nonetheless went ahead and that simply tells you the way superb an individual she is — a type of individuals who is ridiculously superb,” Lesley mentioned.
On Jan. 2, 2020, Alicia went to the mikvah with Rabbi Meg Brudney of Temple Beth El, who had written a ritual ceremony to assist her put together for the surgical procedure. “My Jewish values permeated the entire expertise,” Alicia mentioned.
The subsequent day, Alicia, at age 40, donated certainly one of her kidneys to her childhood pal. She recovered rapidly and went residence. Sadly, Lesley endured weeks of problems. She recovered at her Ferndale residence with the assistance of her mother and Andy. Even with all the issues, her new kidney is working precisely because it ought to.
“My reward to Lesley is that she lives a protracted and full life,” Alicia mentioned. “I’m uncomfortable with all the eye. I don’t consider myself as ‘being a hero.’ The explanation I speak about it’s so that individuals perceive you can provide up a month of your life, with no restrictions afterward, and save somebody’s life.”
Lesley will return to her place as director of danger adjustment and technique and efficiency for Advantasure, a company that helps well being plans navigate the well being care system. She mentioned she feels the necessity to defend her new kidney and assist others with kidney illness.
“Somebody gave me part of herself,” she mentioned. “It got here out of her physique and was given to me. If I can’t defend it, then it feels virtually disrespectful.”
— to thejewishnews.com