Landlord donating kidney to tenant By Joe Fryer
Updated: 3 mins ago
MINNEAPOLIS -- A Minneapolis woman will finally get a much-needed kidney transplant Tuesday thanks to her landlord.
Sherry Hanson, a mother of six children, was diagnosed with kidney disease a few years ago, forcing her to spend three days a week getting dialysis.
A potential kidney donor came forward last year but had to withdraw. That's when Hanson's landlord Dan Hunt stepped forward.
"We were talking about it and I said, 'How about if I get tested? If I'm a match, you can have my kidney,'" Hunt recalled.
It turns out, he was a match.
"I couldn't be happier," Hanson said.
Hunt is director of housing for Urban Homeworks, a faith-based housing organization that helps low-income families in the Twin Cities. Hanson moved into one of Hunt's south Minneapolis homes nearly four years ago.
When Hunt was 19 years old, his father was diagnosed with cancer. He spent the past few months of his life getting dialysis and waiting for a transplant, but he quickly died of renal failure.
"It was a horrible thing to go through," Hunt said. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
After consulting his family last summer, Hunt decided to undergo testing to see if he could help Hanson. When he learned he was a match, he didn't hesitate to keep his promise.
"Everyone wants to be bound by what-ifs. What if your kids need it? What if your other one fails?" he said. "I'm just not prepared to live my life based on what-ifs."
The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning at Hennepin County Medical Center. Hunt will likely spend a couple of days in the hospital; Hanson will be there a few days longer.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=842654
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