Lobsang Chophel, 46 – Recipient
Derwood, Maryland
Georgetown University Hospital
Transplant List
Received from Yolanda Pinkowski
Lobsang Chophel developed kidney disease rather suddenly in 2007 after returning home from a trip to his native country of Tibet. He was diagnosed with IGA nephropathy—an autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys—and has been on dialysis for the past three years of his life. Despite all this, the married father of two still manages to play basketball and work as a broadcaster at Radio Free Asia’s DC bureau. He says he feels very grateful that someone is willing to give him a kidney. “My donor is very, very wonderful. He’s giving me a second chance at life.”
