By creator to www.kxan.com
INDIANAPOLIS — A Hoosier discovered love and a brand new kidney via a relationship app.
Reid Alexander was recognized with a renal failure illness known as Alport syndrome as a young person.
“I needed to develop up and take my well being severe,” Alexander mentioned.
However he didn’t let the prognosis maintain him again and determined to comply with his dream and transfer throughout the nation to Denver in August of 2020, the place he would meet the love of his life.
“I used to be like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to get on Tinder,’ and we matched.”
Alexander and Rafael Diaz went on their first date a number of days later.
“We hit off, and we’ve been collectively every single day since, actually, every single day since we met,” Alexander mentioned.
The 2 bought engaged in April of 2021. As they began wedding ceremony planning, Alexander’s well being started to say no, and he was positioned on the transplant listing.
That’s when Diaz checked if he might donate a kidney.
“He was very optimistic he was going to [be] a match,” Alexander mentioned. “Behind my head I used to be like, ‘It’s not going to work.’”
The 2 had been an ideal match.
Nevertheless, medical doctors in Denver mentioned the surgical procedure was too dangerous due to the dimension of Diaz’s kidney. Alexander known as IU Well being, which agreed to carry out the surgical procedure.
Virtually one 12 months to the day for the reason that two went on their first date, one in every of Diaz’s kidneys turned Alexander’s.
“Every little thing appears good, kidney’s working nice,” Alexander mentioned. “He’s given me the chance to dwell a greater life, an extended life, and now that I’ve a wholesome kidney, we’re capable of dwell our life to the fullest potential.”
“It’s not just for love,” Diaz mentioned, “we’re going to begin to dwell this chapter within the life. In case you may help another person and provides another person life, do it.”
There are 7.6 billion folks on the earth and 106,000 folks on the nationwide transplant listing, many on the lookout for their good match.
And for these two, it was one another.
“We knew we had been meant to be, however it simply confirmed we had been meant to be,” Alexander mentioned. “Be a donor, it modifications your life.”
Alexander and Diaz have arrange a GoFundMe to assist with medical bills and their keep whereas they’re in Indiana. To be taught extra, click on here.
— to www.kxan.com
