Daniel, Heather, Jon Bon Jovi, Jennifer and Roseann Flood
What if you were told that you or a loved one needed a kidney transplant in order to survive but were having difficulty finding a match? Currently there are 90,000 people on the waiting list for a transplant and sadly, 11 people die each day. In 2008, the Flood sisters – Jennifer, Heather and Cynthia started the Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation to help their father Daniel find a kidney match through a living donor. In the years since, they have helped numerous patients in their endeavor to find a new kidney. Now in addition to their amazing work, they are planning to create a wellness center where patients and their loved ones can go for a holistic experience. I recently spoke with Jennifer Flood about all of their work spanning almost two decades, as well as the bright future of the foundation.
At the end of 2007, Daniel was told he needed a transplant in six months or go on dialysis. Unfortunately none of the sisters were a match. Heather suggested taking to Craigslist to find a donor, as the national waitlist is 6-10 years. After posting the ad, they had thousands of responses and the sisters turned finding a donor into a full time job. As the months went by, the process became tedious but eventually on December 12, 2008 Daniel received his new kidney thanks to a donor from Monterey, CA. After the success of their father’s transplant, the sisters came together again. Says Jennifer, “We said we have all these donors – how do we stop here? Let’s do this for other people now.” The Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation, a 501(c)3 was born and they started making matches right out of their parents house.
When it comes to finding matches for recipients, everything is referral-based. In 2015 the sisters received a call that Jerry Edelstein, the attorney for Dolly Parton and Jon Bon Jovi, needed a kidney transplant. They were on a mission to get a campaign going to help find a donor. Dolly Parton created a video entitled The Christmas Wish, advocating for Jerry and within a short time thousands of people were reaching out to help. Eventually a match was found in Arizona and the transplant was successfully performed at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Jerry then came up with the idea to get Jon Bon Jovi involved and do a benefit for the foundation. It took some time but on March 4, 2018, Jon played a sold-out show at the Tarrytown Music Hall and raised $250,000 for the Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation. Unfortunately Jerry was not in good health by then, living with dementia. But as Jon said from the stage that night, “Jerry is alive today because of these three sisters.”
Sadly, Heather passed away in January 2025 – she would have turned 49 on May 24th. Jennifer and Cynthia are now on a mission to create a holistic wellness center in her honor. One that will empower patients and give them a whole approach to their treatment, care and well-being. “We want to bring kidney matching to the center. We see it as a place people can come to get a match – not have to travel to the city”, says Jennifer. The center would work with patients on everything from nutritional counseling, therapeutic services and activities such as yoga and reiki, providing a peaceful experience. ”We want the center to be dedicated to our sister Heather, our father Daniel and all the patients we transplanted who passed on and who are still living.” The sisters are hoping to build the center in Westchester or CT.
John is B blood type and can accept from a B or O kidney donor
One of their main focuses right now is finding a kidney transplant for their patient John Cusmano of Toms River. NJ. John, 67 was born with polycystic kidneys and is registered at Hackensack University Medical Center and at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell in Manhattan. John has always been deeply involved with his community, giving back and helping others. He is very close to going on dialysis and his need is urgent. He would need a match with Type B or O blood. People can contact the Foundation or make donations through their website, floodsisterskidneyfnd.org to help patients such as John as well as help continue the great work that began from three sisters love for their father.
