Source: WBNS 10TV
ATHENS, Ohio — This Thanksgiving provided one woman with even more reason to celebrate this year.
Three months ago, Melanie Hall received a phone call that gave her a new lease on life. And it was thanks to a stranger, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.
Back in August, kidney failure was destroying Hall's body and wearing away at her will to live.
"At that point I said if this is the way my life is going to be, I don't really want to do this anymore," Hall said.
She had no way of knowing that a public service announcement on television had inspired a total stranger to make a decision that would change both of their lives. Rollie Merriman saw the commercial and contacted Lifeline of Ohio to become a living organ donor.
"When you're healthy like I am, why not give back?" Merriman said. "Why not help somebody else out? Why not pass that on? Let somebody else enjoy life like me."
Merriman decided to donate one of his healthy kidneys to a perfect stranger. The decision led to testing and eventually a phone call for Hill.
"First, it was like okay, this is a real phone call," Hill recalled with laughter. "And the lady said 'we found you a match.' When I hung up the phone, I felt like I was in a dream... that this wasn't real."
Hill and Merriman underwent surgery to transplant one of his kidneys into her. On the day of the procedure, the two made a promise to celebrate Thanksgiving together.
They kept that promise Nov. 25.
"I don't know how I could be more thankful. I really don't," Hill said. "To say 'thank you' is not enough, and I just love him."
Merriman told 10TV he was thankful he could make a difference.
"I tell everybody Mel's my new sister," he joked. "It's tremendous. And look at her! She's doing great!"
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