Ben needed a second chance.

“I was experiencing edema, swelling in my lower extremities, legs and feet,” Ben said. He believed he was in really “bad shape,” and his kidneys were “fully clunked out.” Ben needed a kidney transplant.

That's when Tia, a friend from Ben’s church, stepped forward to be a living kidney donor.

“I just asked God for a miracle in his body,” Tia said. “I didn’t know I was going to be a part of that miracle at that moment.”

Living kidney donations come with many benefits, such as fewer complications. Compared with deceased donor kidneys, living donor kidneys are expected to work at least for 15 to 20 years, however, many patients have had living-donor kidneys for 40 years. It’s truly a lifesaving procedure.

“Now I have my strength back. I don’t have to do dialysis anymore,” Ben said. “I got a second chance.”

“Here at Memorial, it was great care. If I could do it again, I would,” said Tia with a smile.