Metro

Kidney transplant nixed for Montefiore patient whose sister died in donor operation

Where his sister Yolanda died trying to donate her own kidney.

Where his sister Yolanda died trying to donate her own kidney.

How much more can this poor guy take?

A gravely ill Bronx man whose sister recently died in a botched surgery trying to donate her kidney to him saw another transplant canceled at the last minute last night, after doctors had repeatedly promised he would be getting a new kidney yesterday.

The Post has learned that Montefiore Medical Center surgeons scratched dad of four Robert Medina’s operation because organ-donor officials failed to obtain required approval from federal oversight bodies to give him a donor kidney on an expedited basis.

Medina, 39, “is totally depressed, as is his wife, and, quite frankly, the entire family is devastated by this,” said family lawyer Ben Rubinowitz after the stunning turn of events at Montefiore — where Yolanda Medina, 41, died May 23 when her aorta was accidentally cut during harvesting surgery.

“He’s lost his sister. He’s told they have a kidney for him. He gets his hopes up, only to be told he’s not going to have the surgery.

“You can’t imagine the disappointment that they’re experiencing right now,” Rubinowitz said.

He added that Montefiore officials did not explain to Medina why the surgery was canceled — after doctors initially told him the operation would be yesterday morning, then in the afternoon, then in the early evening before finally pulling the plug.

“I wonder whether they followed appropriate approvals,” Rubinowitz said after being informed by a reporter that officials had not obtained a federal OK for the expedited procedure — which would have vaulted Medina to the front of the kidney-recipient list in compassionate consideration of his sister’s death.

“Why didn’t they tell him? Why weren’t they upfront? I do believe the hospital tried to do a good thing in finding him a kidney, but I think the communication was just horrible,” Rubinowitz said, noting that Medina was never told approval was needed.

Medina morosely said, “There was not a good outcome.”

His latest heartbreak came less than 48 hours after The Post revealed how mom of three Yolanda became the first person in Montefiore’s 40 years of live-donor surgeries to die in surgery.

The tragedy spurred Montefiore to suspend its renowned live-donor program as it and state officials investigate what led to Yolanda’s horrific death — which also left her brother without her kidney.

Hours after that story appeared, Montefiore called Medina and told him to get to the hospital, because a kidney from a deceased donor had been found for him at a Long Island hospital.

He underwent physical and psychological screening and was cleared for the planned surgery by yesterday morning.

“We’re very excited, happy,” Medina’s wife, Marybel, said then.

Roberto Medina said at the time, “They went out of their way. They spoke to all the organizations in the area — they all agreed the next kidney was for me.

“I know my sister is here through all this, and she’s doing her thing from heaven. She wants to finish what she started — she’s an angel.”

But hours later, Medina’s high hopes went to hell — again.

New York Organ Donor Network President Helen Irving said, “Unfortunately, the patient in question will not be able to receive an organ as soon as we had hoped.

“We hope to have all of the approvals in place shortly. I have been impressed by the unity, support and commitment of the transplant community in wishing to pursue this rare request. Our thoughts are with the patient and his family at this difficult time.”

Medina could get another kidney fairly soon, as the organs become available often.

Montefiore had no comment.