For nearly six decades, Brigham and Women’s Hospital has cared for John Pappone and his family in their most vulnerable moments — from his wife’s kidney disease diagnosis in 1970 to cancer treatment in 2020 and the birth of their son in between. At every turn, John has found not only advanced care but unwavering hope and support.

To show his gratitude for a lifetime of Brigham miracles, John chose to include the hospital in his trust. He is a now longtime member of the Brigham Legacy Society, which celebrates supporters who improve care for future generations by including the Brigham in their estate plans.

Heartbreak and Courage

John and his late wife Josephine, “Jo,” began their Brigham journey with personal tragedy, when they endured the loss of a stillborn baby. Brigham specialists discovered that Jo’s pregnancy had activated an underlying kidney disease called chronic nephritis. They could treat the condition, but for now, another pregnancy was too risky. Devastated but determined, Jo began dialysis treatments three times per week, scheduling her appointments to begin at midnight and finish at 5 a.m. so she never missed a day of work.

After 10 months, the Pappones received good news — there was a kidney match for Jo. In 1973, she made the brave choice to undergo a kidney transplant, which would turn out to be one of the most successful transplants on record. At the time, one year of function was considered a success and Jo went on to enjoy 26 years of health with her new kidney.

John and Jo felt they had the best care in the world and they were right — the first successful human kidney transplant was performed at the Brigham in 1954 and Jo’s doctors were part of the team that was helping to develop immunosuppressive drugs that were critical to advancing the field.

A year after her kidney transplant, there was more great news — Jo was doing so well that it was safe for her to become pregnant. A team of Brigham doctors and nurses supported her throughout the pregnancy and provided expert care during labor and delivery. In 1975, Jo delivered a healthy baby boy they named Stephen.

As she continued to thrive, Jo became an important spokesperson who helped move the field of kidney transplantation forward. She volunteered her time as a resource to doctors at the Brigham whose patients were considering a transplant and wanted to talk to someone who had been through the experience already.

“She talked to people from all over the country — she’d spend hours on the phone with patients who were scared to start dialysis or get a transplant. ‘If I could do it, you can!’ she’d assure them,” John says. Jo even shared her experience on television talk shows, bringing Steve, by then four years old, as a beautiful example of the full and vibrant life that was possible after a transplant.

Leaving an Enduring Legacy in Jo’s Honor

When Jo passed away in 1999 from health issues unrelated to her kidney, John remembered the countless times the Brigham had stood beside them — the expert care, reassurance and hope had been a defining part of their lives. To ensure that others could experience the same compassionate care, John became a member of the Brigham Legacy Society, which celebrates generous donors who have included the Brigham in their estate plans. John designated his gift to provide the hospital with flexible, unrestricted support to meet the most urgent priorities and promising opportunities.

To learn more about including the Brigham in your estate plans, please contact Kathleen Duffy, assistant vice president of gift planning, at giftplanning@bwh.harvard.edu or 617 424 4326.