39 Year Old Gives Kidney To Neighbour

[Martian]

Like helping with a flat tire, N.L. man says after giving kidney to neighbour

CBC   click to show 

Six years after buying his house, a St. John's-area man said he didn't think twice about giving a kidney to his next-door neighbour.

"It's just the way I feel. There were no second thoughts," said Darryl Bonnell, who seven weeks ago underwent surgery for a transplant that gave one of his kidneys to neighbour Kevin Murray.

"It was the right thing to do, to give him freedom," said Bonnell.

Both men, who live in the close-knit community of Pouch Cove, just north of St. John's, are now recovering.

Murray, who had had to give up his job and go on dialysis after his kidneys failed, still cannot believe that Bonnell was willing to give such a valuable — and risk-laden — gift.

"It took away a lot of your life, more or less. You couldn't do much," Murray said of his disease, which had required dialysis every second day, for hours at a stretch.

"Anything could have happened. He could have died in the operation."

The two men had not met until six years ago, when Bonnell and his wife, Pam, bought a house from Murray and his wife, Carm. The Murrays built a new property next door, and over the years the two couples became friends.

Carm Murray is overcome with emotion describing what Bonnell's gift has meant.

"We're still in shock.… You don't just ask someone to give you their kidney," she said.

"He got his life back. And within probably the four to five months, he'll be able to go back to work. It's amazing."

The Murrays were overwhelmed by what other people have done for them. Apart from Bonnell, five other people who had no relation to them volunteered to be tested. Then, people in the community raised money to cover costs.

Bonnell and Murray travelled to Halifax in February for the surgery.

At 39, Bonnell had a lot to lose. He and his wife have three young children, and he is self-employed. He knows that he could have died, and may end up on dialysis at some point himself. Apart from having to monitor his health carefully, he can no longer play sports.

All the same, he said he has not a single regret.

"I don't think it's a big thing to do," he said.

"It's the right thing to do, to help a neighbour.… [There's] no difference than if your neighbour had a flat tire. You'd help him out. Anything."

I'm personally floored by this. I've heard stories about the close-knit Newfoundland communities, but this is something else.

I like to think I'm fairly charitable by nature. Some might say that I'm burdened with an excess of empathy, and I don't put much stock in material goods. But even so, I can't imagine donating a kidney to a neighbour. This man has in essence crippled himself so that his friend can have a shot at living a normal life again. Barring an unusually close relationship, I can't imagine putting myself in that position.

Any thoughts? Opinions? Would you do something like this?

[SabrinaFair]

I can't imagine being selfless enough to give a bodily organ to someone who wasn't a close blood relative or maybe a spouse. A friend of mine gave a kidney to her boyfriend this summer, which I thought was an incredible act of selflessness and bravery. I can't imagine even doing that. This guy's actions are amazing.

[Terrell]

No, I would not donate a kidney to my neighbor. Too much personal risk involved for my tastes.

[Fremen]

Ha! I have no neighbors! Didn't expect that, did you??

Ok, I do have a neighbor, but it's a sickly little old lady that I would rather not see get my kidney, and have her take it to the grave in the next year.

Does that make me a selfish person? Yup, probably.

[KellyC]

A while ago, I read about a taxi driver donating his kidney to one of his passenger. They were complete strangers. Stories like this warm my frozen heart. Not sure if I can do the same.

[snowy]

A lady at the church I work at donated her kidney to a coworker earlier this year. When I read the story, I wasn't surprised to see her name. She is someone who walks the walk.

I think it's amazing, but it's not extraordinary; there's a similar case in Tacoma where a Starbucks barista donated a kidney to a customer:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayof...sen/index.html

[percy]

Originally Posted by Terrell

No, I would not donate a kidney to my neighbor. Too much personal risk involved for my tastes.

You may feel differently if your neighbour had a kidney to donate to you if you needed one.

I used to feel similarly about the thought of donating organs myself, until a family member donated a kidney to me,...2 months ago today.

[Terrell]

Originally Posted by percy

You may feel differently if your neighbour had a kidney to donate to you if you needed one.

I used to feel similarly about the thought of donating organs myself, until a family member donated a kidney to me,...2 months ago today.

If he wants to risk his life to save mine, I have no objection to him doing so. I also have no objection to him refusing to do so, since it's his body and his choice as to how much risk to assume to save the life of a stranger.

I don't object to other people donating organs, if that's their choice. I simply choose not to donate mine, which IMO is my choice. Personally I don't wish to take the risks that come with having part of my body removed, not to mention, being in a world of shit should the other kidney fail. I have no objection to those who wish to take such a risk.