Good News Fridays: Walking The Streets, A Kidney Is Found

By Nathan Young on September 6, 2013

I love stories like this! Larry Swilling, 78, went to extraordinary lengths to find a replacement organ for his spouse of more than 55 years, Sue Swilling, whose health was starting to seriously fail. Sue was placed on a kidney donor list, but the waits could be years long. So Larry did something incredible, he got a sandwich board and wrote “Need Kidney 4 Wife” with a phone number and walked around town.

This week, some great news happened! After a year of walking, someone came forward and a match was found! The Medical University of South Carolina has told the Swillings it has found a match. While the couple doesn’t know exactly who the donor is, they say they believe it must be someone familiar with their story. The Swillings will visit the medical center next week for final tests. If all goes well, Jimmie Sue could get her new kidney as early as September 12.

This story shows you that determination and not giving up can pay off! So far, I am still unemployed for 26 months but I have not given up. I even walked around wearing a sign saying “Looking For Work.” Good luck to The Swillings!