What began as a dinner conversation at a Glen Cove restaurant has led to a life-saving kidney transplant. It highlights a growing push to increase living organ donation.

Susanne Deegan, 55, of Sea Cliff, was dining at La Bussola when restaurant manager David Geliashvili revealed he had polycystic kidney disease and needed a transplant. Deegan offered to get tested. Months later, she learned she was a match. Surgeons Elliot Grodstein, MD, and Aaron Winnick, MD, performed the transplant on March 10 at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset.

It comes as Northwell Health officials announced Tuesday that a new ambassador program is helping more patients avoid years on dialysis while waiting for an organ.

“Patients who receive kidneys from living donors are more likely to live longer and avoid the long wait list,” said Dr. Grodstein, noting that deceased donor kidneys don’t last as long on average.

Living donations also allow transplants to happen sooner, reducing time spent on dialysis.

Northwell credits its Living Donor Ambassador Program for helping patients start often difficult conversations about organ donation. Since the program launched, living donor transplants have increased significantly.

April is Donate Life Month, and the Transplant Institute is marking the occasion with its first gala honoring donors and recipients.