BEAUFORT, S.C. – Every 11 minutes someone is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.
According to kidney.niddk.nih.gov, Polycystic Kidney Disease is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. About one-half of people with the most common type of PKD progress to kidney failure.
With PKD running in Angela Santos’ family, including taking the life of her mother, she was a likely candidate for the illness. However, she had no signs or symptoms of the disease, that is, until she became pregnant.
“My kidney was, unfortunately, not a compatible match,” said Sgt. Craig Santos, a Marine Air Control Squadron 2 Aviation Supply specialist. “After I was tested, our other family members were tested, but weren’t a match either.”
In a desperate attempt to save his wife’s life, he resorted to the internet to find a donor. He tried posting a wanted ad on both Twitter and Craigslist, with no results, he then relied on www.beaufortyardsales.com.
“Within 48 hours from posting the ad, we had six people reply, saying they were willing to donate,” said Craig, a Charleston native. “We had the first one who replied, tested and the results came back a perfect match.”
Read on: http://www.dodlive.mil/index. /2011/09/medical-monday-marine-donates-kidney-save-strangers-life/
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