SEOBLOGREEN - The red suit was heavy. Dan Reed felt the weight in his chest, not on his shoulders. He is a helper for Santa in Minnesota. But last Christmas, he was fighting for his life. His kidneys were failing. He could barely walk. Time was running out for Mr. Claus's assistant.
Dan's condition had become dire. He confided in his longtime friend, Steve Eckhouse. Steve saw the pain. He knew Dan had kidney disease. But he did not realize it had gotten so bad. Steve felt he had to do something. He decided to find out if he could be a donor.
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The Power of Friendship and a Kidney Voucher
Many friends tried to donate. They all hoped to be a match for Dan. The process is complicated. It requires a perfect pairing. Of all the tests, only Steve was a match. But not for Dan. He was a match for someone else in the National Kidney Registry.
This was not a setback. This was a new door opening. Steve learned about the National Kidney Registry's Voucher Program. This is a game-changer for living donation. He could donate his kidney to the stranger he matched. That donation would then create a voucher. That voucher would be designated for Dan.
"That created a voucher I could create for Dan," Steve explained. "So he could get a kidney for him."
The mechanism is brilliant. It bypasses the direct match issue. It leverages the registry. Steve's selfless act—donating to a stranger—prioritized Dan. It moved him up the transplant list. It gave him a realistic chance. A real, tangible hope.
Two Weeks to a New Life
Dan was put on the prioritized list at the Mayo Clinic. He waited. He hoped. Then the phone rang. "Mayo called me," Dan recalled. The nurse told him to sit down. Dan did. It was two weeks after he got on the list. Just fourteen days. "We have one for you," she said. It was a miracle. A true gift of life.
The surgery was scheduled. It was a life-saving event for Dan. But it was also a major operation for Steve. Donating a kidney is not a small thing. Steve had his surgery first. "It was a little more difficult than I originally thought," Steve admitted. He endured five and a half hours under the knife. He did it for his friend.
Dan's old kidneys were enlarged. They were ten pounds each. They should be much smaller. The transplant was a success. Dan started his journey toward recovery. He was a new man. A healthy man. He got home in June. The summer was for healing.
Back in the Red Suit
Christmas rolled around again. Dan was back in his role. He visited students from Humboldt High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. They were on a field trip at Highland Popcorn. Santa unexpectedly popped in. The surprise was real. The joy was contagious. Dan was smiling.
A year ago, he was in agony. Now he was spreading cheer. The new kidney changed everything. He is energetic. He is active. Since his surgery, Dan has walked over 350 miles. He is making up for lost time. He is living fully.
This story is about friendship. It is about a smart medical program. It shows the incredible power of a living donor. Steve's kidney went to a stranger. That chain reaction brought a kidney to Dan. A chain of kindness. A chain of life.
Steve encourages everyone. Go to the Kidney Registry. Learn about donation. You don't have to be a direct match. You can still save a life. You can still be a hero. You can still be a Santa's helper. Just like Steve. The bond between the two friends is now unbreakable. A kidney is the ultimate gift.
Source: cbsnews.com
