Man Gets Kidney After Posting Facebook Plea

[okarol]

Man Gets Kidney After Posting Facebook Plea

High School Acquaintance Donates Organ

Reported By Jonathan Martin
POSTED: 4:52 pm CDT April 21, 2011
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. --
He'd almost given up on ever finding someone to donate a kidney until his post on Facebook led to a phone call from someone 2,000 miles away.
Video: Cali. Man Gives Kidney To 1986 Classmate
It was an unlikely reunion. Tim Magsby and Randy Riney hadn't spoken in 25 years, living on opposite sides of the country. Now they're forever connected.
Magsby was in desperate need of a kidney, but with hypertension a problem in his family, those closest to him were ruled out as donors.
After four years on dialysis, waiting, he almost lost hope.
"I told my wife one night, I can't do it. I hate dialysis," Magsby said.
He decided to take a chance on Facebook, posting a video pleading for a kidney.
Months went by, and no one seemed willing. But one night, Magsby got a call from California. It was Riney, a high school classmate from 1986. He'd seen the video on a mutual friend's page and wanted to donate a kidney.
"I've learned in life, there's the good voices that tell you to do stuff and there's the bad voices. That had to be a good voice," Riney said.
"My initial thought: I hope this guy not playing with me," said Magsby.
Even though Riney was willing to donate his kidney, there was a big question: Would it be a match? Both men ended up having the same blood type, and doctors said it was a near perfect match.
"Oh, that's God. Nothing but a miracle," said Magsby.
"I'm glad I could do it," said Riney.
After a successful surgery, both men are recovering at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Magsby said he's happy he'll have more strength for his family.
"I'm elated, overjoyed. I've gotten my life back," Magsby said. "I've let him know that he's my hero."
The men should be able to leave the hospital Friday. Magsby said not having to worry about dialysis will allow him to get more involved in his church again, where he's a minister.

http://www.wsmv.com/news/27629615/detail.html

[WishIKnew]

Very encouraging!!!!!  This whole waiting and  finding a donor thing is quite a mystery!!!!!  Must be a God thing.....  So happy for these two men!

[mike22]

OMG!!!!! I've seen this guy before. I think we go to the same clinic. I am a student at Vanderbilt, I graduate this may. I have created a Facebook page doing the same thing.

[WishIKnew]

mike22 - how can I find you on facebook?

[mike22]

@WishIKnew http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=4710700  - regular facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=154277277932318 - My donor page- its not complete like i want it




Edited: Fixed internet links - okarol/admin

[magsbyt]

Hello everyone.  I am Tim Magsby, the guy featured in this story!  First of all, let me say thank you for posting this to this website!  I was pleasantly surprised when my wife Googled my name and found this story posted. It has been over a month and both me and my donor Randy are doing GREAT!  I feel so Alive!  My entire life has changed for the better!  I am progressing very nicely.  As a matter of fact, the doctors are amazed at how well I am doing at this point.  My creatinine level has decreased from 1.8 when I was released from the hospital on 4/22/11 to its present level of 1.13 as if 5/18/11.  The docs have been surprised at each reading.  They iniitially explained that it would not get much lower than this (the 1.8 level)  Man, have they been eating Crow! 

@mike22:  I would love to get in touch with you! I am working with my group and we are trying to get this up and running so that we can continue to have success with creating matches for folks. My FB page is www.facebook.com/magsbyt. I will be reaching out to you on your page below. 

@ WishIKnew:  This is definitely a God thing!  I cannot begin to relate to you how this came about!  The fact that Randy and I are a near perfect match and we are non-related, has blown EVERYone's mind!  The whole thing has been DIVINE from the start!

[magsbyt]

One more thing!  My story can be read at www.caringbridge.org/timmagsby.  Please drop by and sign my guest book!  I look forward to hearing from you! 

Be blessed!

[okarol]

  Great Tim!