A Perfect Match

PORTLAND -- A Northwest man with a long history of kidney failure thought he found the perfect match in his brother. But tests showed that his brother also needed a kidney transplant.

He thought he had found the perfect match -- his brother, Mike. But when Mike was tested, it turned out that he suffered from the same illness, and in fact, needed a transplant worse than Marc.

"I was thinking what was he going to do? Who was going to give him a kidney," Marc said.

Mike's wife volunteered to be tested, and she was a perfect match and in good health. Mike had a successful transplant.

But that left Marc still in need of a donor.

"Marc and I have been married for 18 years. I don't want to live without him," Linda Rowley said.

Marc's wife, Linda, followed in her sister-in-law's footsteps. To Marc's delight, Linda was a match. She was excited to give the man who enjoyed fishing and playing with his kids more time do what he loves.

Marc underwent his kidney transplant Thursday at Oregon Health and Science University. He was expected to be in the hospital for at least six days, and his wife was expecting to be right by his side.

The OHSU kidney transplant team started its work back in 1959. So far there are about 140 kidney transplants done at the hospital a year. Nationwide, 80,000 patients are waiting for organ transplants.

Anyone interested in giving the gift of life should contact the Organ Donor Program at (800) 452-1369. You may also sign up to be a donor when you renew your driver's license.

Copyright © 2003 KOIN.