The world's longest ever kidney donation chain linked its final donor to ailing recipient last month when a Wisconsin woman became the 34th person whose life was saved by the record-setting program. Mitzi Neyens, 77, was successfully matched with a Philadelphia man after turning to the National Kidney Registry's paired exchange program--her only option since her age barred her from receiving a deceased donor's organ. When she received the kidney March 26, the operation completed a nationwide chain that linked strangers from San Diego to Boston who have loved ones in need with patients desperately in need of a transplant. 32 lives saved: Mitzi Neyens, 77, (left) was the last link in a chain of 34 kidney transplants--the world's longest such chain to date. She received a kidney because her husband Bill gave his kidney to a patient in need . Unbreakable love: Neyens has suffered from kidney disease for most of her 53-year marriage to Bill. She received a kidney March 26 thanks to his generosity . On the day of Neyen's transplant, eight surgeons in four states linked five hospitals through transplants. Neyen, who's battled kidney disease much of her life, received her kidney after her husband--who was not a match for her--gave his kidney to someone else in need. In turn, Neyen received an organ from Matt Crane, 55, who lives outside of Philadelphia, reports ABC News. Crane's wife Michele's Type 1 diabetes caused her to need a new kidney, which she received thanks to her husband's donation. 'If it took for me to give my kidney to somebody in order to get Michele a good healthy kidney, I'm ready to do it,' Crane told ABC, which will air a story about the record-breaking chain on Nightline on Tuesday evening. The last length of this historic chain began at the University of Medical Center in Baltimore when Latwanya Goslee donated a kidney on behalf of her brother, who'd already received a transplant. Her kidney was driven 250 miles to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where it was transplanted into Gary Watson. A friend of Watson's daughter, 44-year-old paralegal Christine Brock, donated the kidney that allowed Watson to receive a transplant. Her organ was flown 368 miles to New Jersey then picked up by a courier and driven to New York City. Starts with altruism: The chain that ended with Neyes receiving a lifesaving transplant began months prior when Minneapolis attorney Kathy Hart gave a kidney without having a loved one in need of a transplant (FILE) A kidney was then taken from New York to Philadelphia and transplanted into Michele Crane. Her husband Matt's kidney was removed and taken to Madison, Wisconsin via a flight to Chicago and a 133-mile drive. That's where Neyen's received it. Et, voila. As ABC notes, these chains can't start without a donor who gives his or her kidney in exchange for nothing. This particular chain began with Kathy Hart, a Minneapolis attorney, who told ABC her unbelievably altruistic choice was an easy one to make. 'I think the fact that it was to a stranger is one of the parts that people have a really hard time grasping. But it actually even makes it easier,' she said. 'From the very beginning I didn't have an attachment to the outcome or any judgment attached to who gets it or who's deserving… I have an opportunity to give, and why wouldn't I?'
The life-saving trend saves lives by allowing donors to give kidneys to strangers in order for a loved one to receive a kidney .
Twenty-six hospitals were involved in the record-setting chain over the course of three months .
Wisconsin recipient Mitzi Neyens, 77, became the final link in the chain March 26 .