Daughter of nephrologist donates kidney to a stranger

Cara Blair learned early in life the importance of organ donation. When she had an opportunity to become a living donor, she donated to a stranger.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

Her mother was a pediatrician, and her father was a nephrologist. Growing up in a medical environment Cara Blair witnessed her dad’s contributions to patients with kidney failure when he built a dialysis unit.

“I grew up seeing patients come to his office and it had a profound impact on me,” said Blair, 55, the daughter of Richard Bilinsky and Sandra Bilinksy. Later in life, her mother’s nurse had a young son with kidney failure. Blair babysat for the boy from time to time and saw his health declining. He received a transplant before his 16th birthday and lived six years with his new kidney.

“Between that experience and getting married later in life, I decided to become a non-directed donor,” said Blair. “I have stepchildren but I didn’t bring any children into this world so I thought maybe I could give someone a chance to live longer,” she said. “Even if you don’t know the recipient, you know they are somebody’s son, daughter, spouse, or parent. If you would do it for someone you know, why wouldn’t you do it for a stranger who has the same need?”

On May 7, 2024, she was in the care of IU Health’s Dr. John Powelson when Blair had her surgery. She didn’t know who received her kidney. “I know it went to someone in their 50s who lives in New York. I’m just happy that I’m able to give someone a chance at a new life,” said Blair, who lives in Greenwood with her husband, Tom.

According to Donate Life Indiana, more than 100,000 men, women and children nationally are waiting at any given moment for a lifesaving organ transplant. More than 1,000 of those waiting are Hoosiers.

At IU Health many recipients receive kidney and liver transplants from living donors. Living kidney donors help give renewed health to people experiencing kidney failure. A living donor can also help reduce or eliminate the need for patients to start dialysis. A healthy kidney from a living donor can function better and last longer than a kidney from a deceased donor. Each perspective donor invests time in initial screenings, multiple tests and evaluations. They work with a team of IU Health transplant experts that include surgeons, donor coordinators, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and financial coordinators.

A living kidney donor isn’t necessarily related to the recipient. Compatibility is based on blood type and tissue typing. Age and size are also taken into consideration. If a healthy donor is incompatible with the intended recipient, the donor may opt to be part of paired donation. Also known as “donor swap” recipient /donor pairs are matched according to compatibility. Over the years, IU Health’s kidney transplant team has performed several paired donations. Some chains have included multiple people.

At the age of 15, Blair began working as a receptionist in her mother’s practice and continued throughout college. She studied business and marketing and now works in medical communications. In her spare time, she enjoys running and has competed in a number of half marathons and two full marathons.

“I knew what to expect before surgery and I feel like I had an easy time through it,” said Blair. “Dr. Powelson came around the second day and I was up and ready to get out the door. Within two or three days after surgery I was out walking my dog.”