Batavia, NY – After more than a decade living with kidney disease, Jim Urtel, a longtime member of New York’s harness racing community, has received a successful kidney transplant, marking a major milestone in a journey defined by patience, discipline, and resilience. In 2020, he received a deceased-donor kidney transplant that ultimately failed due to significant scarring. That commitment culminated in a successful transplant made possible by Sharon West, a 25-year volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the Pavilion Fire Department in Pavilion, N.Y., and living kidney donor who stepped forward to help a stranger in need. More than 90,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a kidney transplant. Living donors like Sharon West play a critical role in helping reduce wait times and saving lives.