Pandemic complicates Easton woman’s search for third kidney donor

BOSTON — Times are already tough for so many of us because of this pandemic.

For a local woman in Easton, if you looked at her, you would never imagine the pain she is going through. While most of us have been struggling to survive through the pandemic, Seana Goodwin had been searching for her third kidney.

The delay right now is due to people being afraid to go to the hospital to even get tested to see if they are a match for organ donation.

“I guess what defines my life is the issues I had with my kidneys,” said Seana.

When Seana was just 26 years old, she already needed a kidney transplant.

Seana says three years prior to her first transplant she was diagnosed with systemic lupus, which attacked her kidneys.

“I was on dialysis for six months,” said Seana.

Then, in 1986, being a newlywed at the time, her husband Keith Goodwin didn’t even think twice and donated a kidney to her.

“I gave my wife the opportunity to live a normal life,” said Keith.

“We were the second married couple in the U.S. to have ever done it,” said Seana.

Seana says her husband’s kidney was one of the largest to be donated, weighing in at 5.3 pounds.

“Like a sack of sugar or flower you would buy,” said Seana.

As years went by, Seana tried to live a normal life, despite her health conditions. But then, three years later, when Seana was 34, her kidney was failing again.

Through the pain, and on dialysis for seven years, the Goodwins adopted Zachery when he just 2 weeks old.

Seana’s boss, Anne Marie Masciarelli, would see her struggle at work due to her health conditions and knew that, at the same time, the Goodwins were also trying to raise a newborn.

“I felt like I had a calling to do it,” said Masciarelli, who was Seana’s second organ donor.

Masciarelli didn’t even think twice and donated a kidney to Seana.

“I gave a friend the ability to raise a son like a normal mom, and not someone who was attached to a machine,” said Masciarelli.

At the time Masciarelli, was just 39 years old, raising her three young children.

Now, fast forward 16 years later and Seana is in need of another kidney.

"Now I’m in stage four failure, needing another kidney, said Seana.

This time around, the struggle to find a kidney donor is even more difficult because of the pandemic.

“I’m hoping that someone sees this, and can find it in their heart and get tested, be a match, and have them be a part of me,” said Seana.

Seana says she wants to be around to watch her son, a football player, get married and have his own kids one day.

She also hopes people will be mindful on their driver’s license application and agree to become an organ donor.

If you would like more information about becoming a donor, go to Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s living donor center at bwh.donorscreen.org and reference Seana Goodwin, D.O.B 5/12/70.

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