The longer you’re married, the harder it is to come up with a unique anniversary gift. However, Janice Hodges knew exactly what she was going to give her husband Charles for their 49th wedding anniversary. Charles, who recently turned 70, had spent a lot of time, way too much time, on a dialysis machine because of a congenital kidney disease for the past 30 years. She didn’t hesitate for a nanosecond when the opportunity to give her kidney arose.
Why not earlier? Their blood types were incompatible. However, a new technique that reduces antibody rejection was used for the kidney transplant. And for Charles, it’s “so far, so good.”
The retired Australian couple plan to travel as soon as they get the go-ahead from the doctors, the first time in more than 10 years that they’ve taken a vacation. The Brisbane Times has the entire story about this wonderful gift of love.
Kidney Transplant Resources
- The U.S. National Kidney Foundation provides excellent information about kidney transplants and what families should know.
- John Hopkins Medicine has more information about the incompatible blood type transplant program.
- The Mayo Clinic’s innovative kidney transplant programs with ABO incompatible blood donors.
- The Kidney Registry facilitates living donor transplants via paired exchange for people who have willing but incompatible living kidney donors.
