Vancouver woman to receive kidney from fellow model

[okarol]

Vancouver woman to receive kidney from fellow model
 
Denise Ryan
Vancouver Sun

Friday, January 02, 2009

VANCOUVER - When Vancouver model Savilla Kress changed her profile on networking website Model Mayhem this year - a site that matches models and clients for work - it wasn't that she'd gained weight or changed her hair colour.

It was to say she had entered end-stage kidney failure and had a permanent dialysis tube in her stomach.

"I model swimsuits. I thought I should let clients know," said Kress, who was on a waiting list for a life-saving kidney transplant.

She didn't anticipate that a stranger, another model on the site whom she had never met, would respond with an offer to donate one of his kidneys.

When Stephen McClelland, a Las Vegas performer and model, and a virtual "friend" on the website e-mailed to point out that she had failed to post her blood type, she added that information.

"I'm O positive," said Kress. "It's a difficult type to match. I'm a universal donor, but only O positive can match to me."

McClelland immediately responded by saying he had the same blood type.

Kress thought he was just remarking on the coincidence. She had no idea he was already planning to step up as a potential donor.

"I was a boy scout," said McClelland. "I like to help when I can. It was kind of spontaneous."

Kress was shocked. "I said, 'You don't have to do this.'"

She had dealt with kidney disease for 20 years before her kidney function slid into rapid decline. Although she knew her wait for a transplant in B.C. could take up to eight years, she also knew it was a huge decision for a stranger to make. He could end up not being a match; if he was a match, he could lose his nerve and back out.

She didn't want to get her hopes up.

Kress, whose health was rapidly declining and who faced 8 1/2 hours a night of painful dialysis, had already dealt with disappointment and letdown. Although her brother and sister had stepped forward as potential donors, neither was a match.

"The testing is really extensive," said Kress. "They have to be a blood match and show that the donor can live a healthy life on just one kidney."

McClelland saw his doctor in Las Vegas and was told he was an excellent donor candidate.

With every step, it became more and more obvious that McClelland was the one.

When he came up to Vancouver in September to complete the testing, he met Kress and her boyfriend for the first time. They began to bond as friends.

"It was like we'd known each other all our lives," said McClelland, whose wife Lisa has been supportive.

"I got the news he was a match on Nov. 25, my birthday," said Kress, 42.

Surgery is scheduled for Jan. 5. "That's going to be my new birthday," said Kress. "This is the best gift anyone could give me. I am in awe that anyone could be so altruistic."

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=1136413