Dave Bell, a resident of Powhatan, Virginia, who has portrayed Santa Claus at community events for years, donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient in August 2026.
The surgery took place at Henrico Doctors' Hospital, where Bell wore a Santa hat during his recovery.
Bell said he decided to donate because he had two kidneys and only needed one, while someone else had none and needed one.
To become eligible for donation, Bell lost 40 pounds, a requirement he noted means he now has work to do to return to his usual Santa appearance before the holiday season.
Dr. Amanda Bailey, a transplant surgeon at the Virginia Transplant Center at Henrico Doctors' Hospital, said stories like Bell's make organ donation feel real and personal.
She added that such examples demonstrate donation is possible and that one person can make an enormous difference in another's life.
The recipient's identity remains anonymous, consistent with standard transplant privacy practices.
Bell's donation adds a living-donor kidney to the transplant pool, which typically offers recipients better outcomes and shorter wait times than deceased-donor organs.
Town’s Beloved Santa Claus Delivers a Very Special Present to Someone in Need–His Donated Kidney
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