Woman donates kidney to stranger

Woman donates kidney to stranger
By TERESA ANN BOECKEL

Shari Perkins of York Township will undergo surgery at a Texas hospital this morning to donate one of her kidneys to save the life of a man she's never known.

"I can't think of anything better to do than save someone's life or enhance it," Perkins said as she was prepared for surgery Monday evening.

Mario Rene Lozano, a retired police officer from Missouri City, Texas, will receive Perkins' kidney at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. If all goes well, he could be released by the end of the week.

"Shari has been my lifesaver, my guardian angel," he said.

Lozano has suffered from diabetes for about 30 years, and he's been on kidney dialysis for roughly nine months. His two daughters didn't qualify as kidney donor candidates.

So, the family took its plea for help to a Web site called "Wish Upon a Hero" at www.wishuponahero.com. His daughter, Kari Quinn, wrote about how her father has helped others, and that the family was now looking for a living donor with Type O-negative blood.

Perkins, who has granted 245 wishes through the Web site, such as money for groceries and sending birthday cards to children, responded to the family's plea within 30 minutes. Her father, Marlin Knaub, helped at least six people through organ donation when he died in 1996, and that inspired her to become a living donor.

If she gives one of her kidneys, it will free up a cadaver kidney for someone else in need, Perkins said.

She also hopes to inspire others to become living donors. "It's not as difficult as people think it is," she said.

Perkins said she saw similarities between Lozano and her dad. For example, her father was 54-years-old when he died, and Lozano is 55. Her father didn't get to see two of his grandchildren. Lozano has young grandchildren.

"I knew it has to be the right thing to do," she said.

Lozano's fiancée, Linda Mares, and his daughters kept Perkins' offer a secret until tests proved that her kidney would be a match.

Then, Perkins joined the family at a restaurant one day to share the news. Lozano looked at her in disbelief, Mares recalled.

"I was blessed by this woman," he said. "I could not believe it. She was there for my rescue."

Lozano said he hopes the new kidney will give him strength to help him recover from several strokes that has left his right side paralyzed.

Both patients waited Monday night for the upcoming surgery.

"It's the most amazing thing I've ever done," Perkins said.

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13196227