A kind stranger donates his kidney to help a father of two with a rare, genetic kidney disease. A few years ago, Steve Sanders found out his kidneys were slowly failing and he’d eventually either need regular kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant. Being an active father of two, Sanders was afraid that dialysis wouldn’t allow him to enjoy his family like he wanted to, so he started the search for a donor kidney.
After family and friends failed to be a match for him, Sanders turned to social media looking for a donor. That’s when Chris Perez became aware of Sanders. Also a father, Perez was touched by Sanders’ story of wanting to be there for his children. Perez imagined himself in the same position and even though they’d never met, he felt compelled to donate his kidney to Sanders. After a series of tests, he was found to be a match.
Perez and Sanders met up before the surgery and immediately hit it off. The men had a lot in common and their friendship grew from there. In the lead up to the surgery, they started spending more time together with each others’ families. Then in January they underwent successful transplant surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina. When asked what his new friend's sacrifice means to him, Sanders expresses his gratitude. “It means everything to me. It’s a chance at continuing to have a normal life with my kids,” Sanders says. “It shows Chris’ commitment to being a father and allowing me the same chance.”
Source: WBTV