Jun 1, 2010 10:50 pm US/Pacific
Facebook Plea Yields Old Friend, Kidney DonorMore Local News
Reporting, Neda Iranpour
CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. (CBS13) ―
A Citrus Heights man in need of a new kidney turned to the popular social networking site Facebook to ask for help, and managed to connect with an old friend who happened to be a perfect match.
Eli Powell, a father of two boys, learned he has Berger's disease three years ago, which would eventually eat away his kidneys with toxins. For three hours, three times a week, Eli goes through dialysis to help clean his blood.
"It's been rough, it's been hard, but I'm making it okay," Eli said.
With a new kidney, Eli could live a more normal life, so he put a call out on Facebook, "saying I need help, I need a kidney transplant," he said.
His plea caught the attention and compassion of a long-lost friend who he hadn't heard from in a decade. Paul Jones responded to the advertisement and ended up being a match for the friend he met in the eighth grade at E.V. Cain Middle School in Auburn.
"Figured he's young, has a family, and I'd want someone to do that for me if I was in his position," Paul said. "If we can both be healthy and survive, live long happy lives, I don't see how I couldn't do it."
The transplant will happen this August. Paul will have a few noticeable scars and about two months of pain and recovery.
"It's awesome. It's nice to know people out there who are willing to help like that," Eli said. "It's gonna be a life changing experience for both of us, he literally is going to be part of me for the rest of my life."
Eli is also using Facebook to raise funds for the transplant.
http://cbs13.com/local/facebook.kidney.donation.2.1727551.html
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
