A HERO FOR LILY

Lily Woo has been a leader and advocate, active in the community for over three decades, and she is calling upon us in her time of need! Diagnosed with kidney disease in 2018, she is in search of a kidney donor that will save her life. Please be Lily's hero! 

September update, a message from Lily: 

As many of you know, I have Stage 5 (End Stage) Kidney Disease. I have been in search of a kidney donor for the past three years. 

Up until yesterday, I thought I had found the perfect living donor - a young drum corps friend with a matching blood type who was unselfishly willing to donate one of her kidneys to me. 

After going through a battery of exams, we found that one of her kidneys was smaller and weaker than the other. Although she felt perfectly healthy and wanted to hel me, the doctors could not chance taking a kidney from her. I will be forever grateful to this young lady for trying. 

And so my search continues. I am asking for all my friends to help me find someone who is willing and able to help me. Matching blood type is NOT necessary - there is an exchange program where if a donation is made on my behalf, a matching kidney will be guaranteed for me within 6 months of the donation. 

Currently my life is very restricted and I can't do the things I love or travel too far away. I have to be in bed by about 8:30pm every night to begin preparations for my daily 10-hour treatment on my dialysis machine. Although I feel much better having home dialysis than at the hospital, it does take a toll on my body and spirit having to do this each night. Sleep is disrupted every 90 minutes or so to pay attention to the machine. Thank God for my husband and daughter who help me each day. 

I often feel the clock ticking so I want to find someone as soon as I can - especially knowing that the lifespan of someone on dialysis is limited. A living donor is my best option. 

I have faith that I will find a kind and generous donor - I just need help! Thank you all for your love and prayers! God bless you all!

Lily

If you are interested in learning more about the kidney donation process or in becoming a potential donor for Lily, please register and indicate that you are a donor for Lily Woo at: https://cornell.donorscreen.org.

If you have any questions, please reach out directly to Donna Tissot, Lily's advocate, at donnat628@gmail.com. 

Lily Din Woo, a product of the NYC public schools, served as the principal of New York City’s P.S. 130 – Hernando DeSoto Elementary School in Manhattan’s Community School District 2 for 25 years. As principal, she was credited for transforming an academically-struggling school where the majority of the children were from disadvantaged homes into one that has consistently been recognized as one of the highest performing schools in New York City and New York State, as well as by the US Department of Education.

Lily has received many awards in her life: most notable were the NYC and NYS Distinguished Educator Awards in 2002; recognition by the 2004 World Olympics Committee as an “Everyday Hero” and had the honor of running part of the New York City leg of the Summer World Olympics Torch Relay that year; and Manhattan Media’s 2010 “Principal of the Year” Blackboard Award. At her retirement celebration in 2014, she received proclamations from the City Council and the NYS Senate for her long-standing service as principal in her school and community, and most recently in 2016, received recognition as one of City University of New York’s Outstanding Asian American Alumni.

As a hobby, Lily is a drum corps enthusiast. From the time when she was seven, she was a part of a community drum corps in Chinatown. During the late 1970’s, she was a part of the Bills Boys Drum and Bugle Corps horn line and later joined the New York Skyliners to become one of the few females in their horn line.  She also marched as part of Sky’s Championship Honor Guard for several years in the 1990’s and served as assistant drum major for the competing corps from 2005-07. She was given the honor as a lifetime member of the New York Skyliners field corps in 2015. Today, she is still a member of the Skyliners Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps and still plays whenever she is well enough and able to.

A living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Please share Lily's story and bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation.

ABOUT CPC

The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is a social services organization that creates positive social change. Founded in 1965, CPC is the nation's largest Asian American social services organization and aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities of New York City. CPC is the trusted partner to individuals and families striving to achieve goals in their education, family, community, and career. 

關於華策會

華人策劃協會（簡稱“華策會”）是一個致力於創造正向社會變革的社會服務機構。華策會成立於1965年，是美國最大的亞裔美國人社會服務機構，旨在促進紐約市華裔美國人，移民，及低收入社區的社會權益和經濟賦權。華策會是為實現其教育，家庭 ，社區及職業目標而努力的個人和家庭可信賴的機構。