Couples Give Each Other Gift Of Life In Ultimate Kidney SwapWeb Editor: Rhonda Erskine, Online Content Producer
Last Updated: 1/4/2008 5:15:08 PM
RICHMOND, VA (NBC) -- Two Virginia couples have given the gift of life to each other in what could be described as the ultimate kidney swap.
It happened a year ago, and the two couples had never met until Friday.
Ruth Barksdale needed a kidney, but her husband, Paul, wasn't a match.
Nathan Nilsson needed a kidney too, but his wife, Tina, wasn't a match either.
But Paul and Tina were matches to the people in the other couple, all of whom were strangers until Friday morning.
Paul and Ruth Barksdale waited with anticipation as they prepared to meet the Nilssons.
Tears of joy ran down the faces of people who've been waiting for this moment a long time.
"A year we"ve been waiting to actually meet these folks and see them, and give them a hug," Nathan Nilsson said. "It means a lot."
"I feel great, I feel great," Paul Barksdale said. "You know, I finally met Nathan, and my heart is going to be with Tina forever."
Tina donated her kidney to Ruth. Ruth's husband, Paul, donated a kidney to Tina's husband, Nathan, who's eternally grateful.
"For them to be willing to share a part of their body to keep somebody else alive, I think it is the biggest thing out of this," Nathan said.
These strangers became instant best friends as they laughed and talked over coffee and bagels.
They all know how rare this situation was.
"It is like a miracle," Nathan said, "and I really love these people now."
Both couples hope this story will encourage more people to become organ donors.
"I think that's the ultimate blessing, and it's the ultimate gift that you can give a person, a better quality of life," Paul said.
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=77836
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
