Palm Desert couple to swap kidneys with other perfect transplant matches
Ana Morin has needed a kidney transplant since hers started failing nearly seven years ago.
“It was Feb. 14, 2012 – and (the doctor) was like, ‘Your kidneys are at … 15 percent,'” she said.
She was diagnosed with stage four kidney failure. Today she needs dialysis at home – filtering her blood through a machine – for 10 hours each day.
“It was 9 months into our marriage, so we just got married,” said her husband, Danny Morin. “It was very shocking. … I just knew whatever was gonna happen, I kept it together. I had to be strong for her.”
Looking for help, the couple turned to social media. The two have started an Instagram page, @2kidneys1love, chronicling their health journey together.
“We searched and we couldn’t do this alone. … We put a post out there just shared the story and wanted to be truthful with it,” Danny said.
They received an overwhelming response of people willing to be tested. But at the start of this year, they got word Danny was a perfect match for his wife.
“The nurse was like this is a miracle. It usually doesn’t work like that,” he said. “I’m like, let’s do this. I want donate my kidney to my wife.”
But then a twist — the surgeon called to say there was a another family in need.
“I’m a direct blood type to the family member he’s trying to donate to and they’re waiting for a specific couple case like us,” Danny said. “We’re all perfect blood types – basically it’d be a swap. And we’re just like, whoa…”
They agreed to give his kidney to the anonymous recipient — and Ana will take their donation instead.
“We just feel that this is what god has for us – this is just the ultimate plan,” Danny said.
They’re now saving two lives instead of one.
“Two people are going to be receiving a kidney on the same day, so two family lives are gonna be changed and we’re just happy to do it,” Danny said.
Ana and Danny will undergo surgery on Nov. 26 at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Indio.
received the good news that her husband, Danny, was approved as an organ donor.
Ana is currently undergoing kidney dialysis at home ahead of the surgery, which is scheduled for Nov. 26 at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
The Morins are hosting a ‘Paint Nite’ fundraiser on Nov. 15 at The Shop Cafe in Desert Hot Springs.
They are also raising money to help with costs associated. According to their GoFundMe page, they’ve raised more than $2,000 of their $15,000 goal.
Reporter Jake Ingrassia will have a full report on this touching story tonight on News Channel 3 at 6 and CBS Local 2 at 6:30.
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