Elaine Jones

Living donor

Honored by OneLegacy

When Elaine’s uncle needed a kidney to save his life, she didn’t hesitate to become a living donor and share one of her kidneys with him. Tests revealed she was a great match, and thanks to this gift, he was able to enjoy more time with his family. Elaine felt inspired and she wanted to help someone else through living donation. Eight years after her first surgery, she was placed on a list for altruistic donation, and a few months later, Elaine went on to a second surgery that helped save the life a 9-month old girl she didn’t know. Thanks to Elaine’s gift, Jaylee has been able to grow with her family and she is now a healthy and happy 8-year old girl. Elaine is now a mom, a wife and a OneLegacy Ambassador, and through her volunteer work she continues inspiring others to donate life.

Elaine’s Story

It was December, 2000, and Elaine’s uncle, Steven Forman, was admitted to the hospital. Once his family arrived, they received the grim news that his kidneys were failing and that he would need a transplant. Elaine did not hesitate to become a living donor and share one of her kidneys with him. After undergoing a series of tests, she was a great match, and in June 14, 2001, Elaine and Steven were admitted into Arrowhead Community Hospital for their surgeries. Thanks to this gift, Elaine’s uncle was able to enjoy more time with his family.

Shortly after donating her kidney, Elaine felt inspired and she wanted to help someone else by donating a portion of her liver, but it was too soon for her to become a donor again, after just a few weeks from donating her kidney to her uncle Steven.

Eight years after her first living donation, it was September, 2009, and Elaine felt inspired once again. She lived in Fontana at the time, and after contacting several transplant centers, she found a place that took altruistic liver surgeries, USC/KECK. Elaine was accepted into the program and on December 9, 2009, she donated a portion of her liver to an infant. The surgery went well and she was discharged 10 days later. Her recipient, Jaylee, was only 9 months at the time of her transplant.

Elaine met Jaylee and her mom a few months later, right around the time she also decided to continue inspiring others and becoming a OneLegacy Ambassador. Meeting Jaylee was a very touching moment for Elaine. “This is one of the happiest days of my life, to look down on this little girl and to know that she now has a second chance a life is just priceless”. Jaylee is now a happy and healthy 8 year old, and her mom is very grateful about Elaine’s donation.

Since 2010, Elaine continues enjoying good health, and has volunteered numerous hours of her time sharing her stories of donation, hoping to encourage others to become organ donors.