22 | JUNE 3 • 2021

A

few weeks ago, we cel-
ebrated Mother’s Day
with flowers, family
and fun. But one son is giving
his mother the greatest gift:
searching for a kidney donor to
help save her life.
Jonathan Mafrice, 45, of Los
Angeles, grew up in Bloomfield
Hills, where he and his family
attended Temple Israel. He
graduated from Michigan State
University and, after working
in advertising, started a com-
pany that invented the first
sound-embedded video game
chair. He sold his business and
moved to California, recently
returning to Michigan to spear-
head the kidney search.

About three years ago, his
mother, former teacher and
businesswoman Daryle Roth,
73, of West Bloomfield, was
diagnosed with an autoimmune
disease that attacked her kid-
neys. In the last few months,
her kidney function has rapidly
declined and she faces dialysis.
The average wait time for a
deceased donor kidney is two
to five years, so now the family
is desperately searching for a
living transplant donor.
Mafrice wanted to donate
himself, but that wasn’t a viable
option.
“In 2005, I was diagnosed
with severe aplastic anemia,
a condition in which your

immune system attacks your
bone marrow, preventing it
from producing new blood
cells,
” Mafrice said. “I spent over
two years in and out of hos-
pitals, receiving weekly blood
transfusions. My mom was
there for me … now it’s my turn
to help her battle with kidney
disease.
”
After finding out no close
relative was a match — includ-
ing younger brother and father
of two, Daniel, and his uncle
— Mafrice had to expand his
search, which includes talking
with friends and strangers, as
well as using Facebook, a help-
ful platform for connecting with
those most likely to help. It’s
become a daily task to keep the
conversation going, he said.
“
Asking someone to donate
isn’t an easy process. First, you
have to tell everyone you know
someone is sick and ask for
help. Second, most people don’t
know about living donations, so
I educate them about becoming
a donor or considering a living
donation. Third, you need to
find someone willing to do a
completely selfless act, even for
someone they don’t know.
”

HELPING A STRANGER
Through Facebook, Mafrice
connected with a friend, Joanna
Sanborn, who did just the same
thing: became a living donor for
a friend of her mother.
“My mom said her friend
Alfred Klein had a potentially
fatal kidney disease, and his
sister Fran was leading the fight
to save Alfie’s life,
” Sanborn said.
“I have a sister and knew the
desperation I would feel if I was
in Fran’s position.
”
After undergoing blood
draws to see if she was a match
(in fact, she’s a universal donor),
doing research on everything
related to donation and consult-
ing several doctors, all of whom
were supportive, she decided to
proceed.
“I found surprises around

every corner,
” she said, “learn-
ing the ways kidneys function
and how many lives have been
saved by donating. I found
myself part of a nurturing, sup-
portive community, in which
I remain involved. Alfie’s body
greeted my kidney with ‘open
arms’ and he’s doing wonder-
fully today! If I could do it all
over again, without hesitation,
I would.
”

SEARCH CONTINUES
Like his friend, Mafrice has
learned much during his search.
“Kidneys are easier to match
than other organs, and match-
ing isn’t specific to blood type,
age, race or gender,
” he said.
“Donors are carefully screened
to ensure they’re healthy
enough to donate and can live
normal lives with one kidney.
I’ve spoken with several donors,
and each one says it was the
most rewarding experience of
their life.
”
Mafrice said he is honoring
the ethical obligation of pikuach
nefesh, saving a human life, for
both his mother and others in
the same situation.
“In our donor search, we’re
raising awareness for everyone
in need of organ transplant.
We’re asking members of the
Jewish community, which has
always offered support to my
family, to help us in this mitz-
vah. Many people are in need
of a kidney right now. While it
only takes one donor to save my
mom, hopefully we can inspire
others to donate as well.
“My mother wants to live a
normal life, free from dialysis,
”
Mafrice added. “She wants to
watch her granddaughter dance
and grandson play baseball. She
would be grateful for a powerful
and selfless gesture from anyone
willing to donate.
”

To donate for Daryle Roth, call the

University of Michigan Transplant Center

at (800) 333-9013 or email kidneydonor-

fordaryle@gmail.com. Follow at www.

facebook.com/KidneyDonorforDaryle.

A Son’s
Lifesaving
Search

OUR COMMUNITY

Living donors wanted for those
in need of a kidney.

JUDY GREENWALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Daniel Mafrice (left), Daryle
Roth, Jonathan Mafrice (right)
and Roth’s granddaughter
Alex and grandson Ryan.