09/23/2023
Hello, and welcome to the Help Ellen Find a Kidney page! Let’s demonstrate the beautiful side of social media, and see if we can use its power to find Ellen Langston a kidney.
For those of you who don’t know Ellen, here’s some information so you know why we all love her so much and want to find her a match:
ABOUT ELLEN
Ellen was born in St. Louis; she grew up in University City and now lives in Clayton. She has three daughters, six grandchildren, a husband, a dog, countless friends and family, and so very much to live for. A fierce advocate for children, Ellen has spent the majority of her life as a “professional volunteer,” working and tutoring within the Parkway and U City School districts in St. Louis. After years of volunteering, Ellen became President of Kids’ Place, an organization providing after-school care to at-risk elementary school students, with a focus on the development of literacy as well as civic and social responsibility. She’s also an active member of her synagogue, the Central Reform Congregation of St. Louis.
Known as “Grammy” to so many, Ellen relishes in her role as a grandmother. Those who know Ellen will be quick to tell you what a wonderful friend she is and how much joy she brings to those around her.
WHY SHE NEEDS A KIDNEY
Ellen has been on the transplant waiting list for more than a year, but her chances of getting a kidney from the list are very small, so a living donor is her best bet. There’s a history of kidney disease in her family, so finding a familial match has proved futile and she and her family have exhausted all other options. As an active and otherwise very healthy 76-year-old, Ellen, her husband Randy and their dog Sydney take daily walks to Starbucks. Those walks and her other daily activities are getting harder as her kidney function decreases, and if she doesn’t find a match soon, she’ll need to go on dialysis.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you're interested in learning more, you can reach out to ellenskidneysearch@gmail.com. Or if you want to reach out on your own, you can contact Heather Paige there at Heather.Paige@ssmhealth.com or 314-257-8334 and make sure to tell them you're calling on behalf of Ellen Holtzman Langston.
And if you’re not in a position to donate a kidney (because that’s probably most of us!), you can still help by sharing this message with your family, friends, social media followers and extended networks.
