Transplant Chain Brings New Life

A program matches willing kidney donors to strangers in need.

The kindness of strangers Last year, we reported on a new approach to lifesaving kidney donations, a kind of pay-it-forward idea, pairing those in need with those willing to be donors for people they've never met. From that first selfless gift, many are now enjoying a new chance of life. As ABC's Barbara Pinto reports all involved have gathered for the first time. When we last saw Angela Hecmin and Ron Bunnell, they were headed into surgery. Ron was giving Ange, a total stranger, one of his kidneys. Now 15 months later… "I feel fantastic; he gave me a new life." "He gave me my daughter back, for a long time to come." In return, Ange's mother then gave one of her kidneys to a woman she'd never met ("Thank you so much.") until this past weekend. The concept is called paired donation and allows anyone who needs a lifesaving kidney-transplant to get one as long as they find a willing donor. A computer program finds the best possible match. It started with Matt Jones, a father of five from Michigan who decided to give a stranger an incredible gift. "I decide, you know, I've got two, only need the one, if somebody else can have it and live a better life then it's a success." Mat gave his kidney to Barbe Bunnell, whose husband Ron was not a good match for her. In turn, Ron gave his kidney to Ange, whose mother Laurie was not a suitable donor. Laurie gave her kidney to Cecelia and a lifesaving chain took off. Dr. Michael Rees has arranged for 16 such transplants so far. My hope is that we will get 3000 kidney transplants a year someday. A year ago no one here could have predicted that a number of people associated with this chain of kidney transplants could fill a hotel ballroom. But they did, to celebrate incredible generosity and life. My hope, a year from now, we have another reunion, we have more chains, and not a single one of them is broken, and that truly is a never ending chain. Last week in Huston, Carey Barrett added another link. "I have a beautiful wife, fabulous kids, you know, a great job, and I have the ability to donate a kidney." He did, for a woman he'd never met. Brenda Chapa had grown sicker watching 10 potential donors fall through. "Well, he's not a stranger anymore, he's definitely gonna be my best friend." For the Chapa's, Carey's gift is nothing short of a miracle that they will now pass on to another family. Barbara Pinto, ABC News, Perrysburg, Ohio. Incredible generosity indeed and we're happy to say we played a small part in this chain. Carey Barrett, who you saw on Barbara's piece, found out about the paired donations when we reported on the first transplants last year. You can learn more about the Alliance for Paired Donations by logging onto our website ABCNEWS.COM.