A Force for Good

April 2021 was a momentous month for Jeff Romanoff. He turned 55 years old, enjoyed the first birthday of his first grandchild, and celebrated his 13th kidney transplant anniversary. He owes it all to his kidney donor, his supportive family–and Star Wars.

Jeff Romanoff was diagnosed with Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), a rare disorder in which non-cancerous tumors grew throughout his body, including his eyes and pancreas. In 2005, Jeff’s doctors had told him that it spread to his kidneys and he would need a kidney transplant.

A long time ago...

When he wasn’t in surgery or on duty as a Pennsylvania police officer, Jeff was spending time exploring his passion: Star Wars. 

“I was nine years old when the first movie came out,” reminisced Jeff. “I remember seeing it in Ocean City, New Jersey with my grandmother and being taken with it.”

In his spare time, Jeff volunteered with the 501st Legion, a community where Star Wars fans would dress as film characters and volunteer at events across the country such as visiting children at nearby hospitals and handing out Star Wars-themed toys and coloring books.

A new hope

In 2009, Jeff’s brother, another member of the 501st Legion, was having a conversation with a fellow volunteer about his brother’s struggle with kidney failure and the need for a transplant. Eric Seemann was moved by Jeff’s story. 

“I was at a point where I was going to lose a family member and I knew what that feels like-doom and gloom,” shared Eric, whose mother was battling leukemia. He decided that he wanted to help give Jeff a second chance at life and donate a kidney. “I can go and help someone, and save somebody’s family the trouble of watching them suffer.”

Eric was a match! On April 3rd, 2009, they both underwent life-saving surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. 

“I was nervous at first. I had never had surgery before,” shared Eric. 

Members of the 501st Legion demonstrated their support by showing up to the surgery in costumes like Jeff and Eric had done for others so many times before. Many even offered rides to post-surgery appointments and donated meals and even hotel rooms. As Eric put it, “It’s a big family.”

Learn more about kidney transplants.

Return of the Jedi

While neither are still part of the 501st Legion, they both spend their time giving back. Jeff, now retired, is using his platform as a Twitch streamer to help raise money for charity and awareness for other kidney patients. Eric has offered his encouragement and mentorship to others thinking about donating a kidney through online support groups. They still wish each other a happy transplant anniversary every year.

“If it wasn’t for Eric, I would not be here,” says Jeff. “You have a responsibility to live your life the best way you can because this person gave you everything so that you could live your life.”

“If everybody that could donate a kidney was able to get out and get tested, they could make a difference in another family’s life without realizing it,” says Eric when asked about the advice he would give others considering living donation. Becoming a Living Donor teaches you everything you need to know.

Jeff praises Eric’s selfless act of giving him a second chance at life, but also still credits Star Wars as having a significant part in his transplant story. 

“The movies saved my life in a sense because I got hooked up with so many great people and so many friends that somebody stepped up to the plate,” says Jeff. “I hope my story energizes people into doing the right thing and maybe changing somebody else’s life.”

If you need a kidney transplant, NKF can help. Take First Steps to Transplant for a beginner’s guide to kidney transplant.