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Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: News Articles => Topic started by: okarol on January 15, 2010, 02:18:49 PM

Title: Henderson Man Donates Kidney to Total Stranger
Post by: okarol on January 15, 2010, 02:18:49 PM
Henderson Man Donates Kidney to Total Stranger

Posted: Jan 15, 2010 1:43 PM Updated: Jan 15, 2010 1:44 PM

LAS VEGAS -- A Henderson man is giving the gift of life to a total stranger. Twenty-nine-year-old Jerry McElroy is donating his kidney to a stranger.

Last August, McElroy did a Google search for organ donation and he found the website matchingdonors.org. It's similar to social networking sites like Facebook, but it's where people in need of organs can find donors by blood type and then make contact and start tests.

Last summer, 55-year-old Wisconsin resident Peggy Ponche was diagnosed with kidney failure and given only a few months to live without a transplant. Her daughter signed her up on the website hoping to find a match and they found Jerry.

Several tests later, they found out he was a perfect match.

"The reason I felt like doing it is because as humans we can live off of one kidney, and I've been blessed with a wonderful dog and a healthy body," he said.

McElroy's recovery will take about six weeks, but he plans to be back home in a few days.

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11830836