
The post refers to a 2012 incident where Debbie Stevens, a New York mother, was fired by her boss Jackie Brucia after donating a kidney to help her move up the organ donor list, a case documented by ABC News, highlighting the ethical breach of trust in workplace dynamics.
Recovery from kidney donation typically takes 6-12 weeks for a return to normal activities, per Lahey Hospital & Medical Center’s guidelines, suggesting Stevens’ firing for “taking too long” may reflect unrealistic employer expectations rather than medical necessity.
This case contrasts with altruistic donation successes, like Dylan Matthews’ 2016 non-directed kidney donation at Johns Hopkins, where risks were minimized via advanced surgery, underscoring how employer gratitude—or lack thereof—can dramatically affect donor outcomes
