“I go to UAB to donate blood as often as I can, and by coincidence, one day I was there and happened to pass through a health fair and saw the table where they were talking about living organ donation and the kidney chain. Later I went and looked at the website, and the idea just sort of took hold. I was tested in May of 2015, and they told me I was pretty much a perfect candidate.
“The way I looked at it is that, since I was deemed a great candidate, then for me to hold onto something I didn’t need — but that could save somebody else’s life — would be rather selfish. And I knew I was in good hands, because UAB’s program is one of the best in the nation, and that if they had any concerns they wouldn’t let me do it.
“Meeting my recipient was pretty emotional. He said to me, ‘I just want you know, I’m never going to take this for granted.’ We’ve since become good friends, and I’ve been able to visit him and his wife at their house in Winfield, Alabama.
“I know his quality of life has improved a lot. He’s been able to work again and do the things he used to enjoy doing, which for about four years had been impossible. I’m really glad I was able to save a person from the torment he was going through.
“My family had been scared for me when I first decided to do it; but now that it’s over, they have been very supportive and proud of me. My health post-transplant is excellent. It couldn’t be any better, so having one kidney hasn’t really caused me any problems.
“I’m very honored to be a part of the kidney chain, and I’ve been trying to tell people whenever I can about it and convince them to at least get tested. It would mean a lot to me if I could persuade someone to look into it.”