Kidney transplant was given to the man who found a donor on social media

In a time of great need, a stranger comes to the aid of a North Carolina man, forever changing his life and creating an eternal bond.

Steve Sanders, 46, has two children with a rare condition called uromodulin kidney disease (UKD).

As a result of his diagnosis, he would have to find a kidney donor or go through the grueling dialysis process to survive.

Chris Perez, 40, a foreigner at the time, tried to donate his kidney after an online campaign saved the life of someone who was now a close friend.

Sanders (middle right), a single father of two young children, inspired Perez (left) to reach out.

Perez (pictured) is a father, and he and Sanders bonded over their mutual experiences of fatherhood.

In an interview with atrial health, the hospital that performed the procedure, and Perez’s workplace, Sanders described himself as an active father.

Dialysis can be devastating and exhausting for a person and rarely does more than prolong a person’s life by a few years.

Had he taken that path, he would not have been able to participate in the lives of his children as he is now.

“I didn’t think dialysis would allow me to do the things I can do with my kids right now,” Sanders said.

“Finding a match for a living kidney meant that it would probably last twice as long as a cadaver kidney, and we would have the advantage of testing the donor first.”

Sanders (pictured) is a father of two young children and feared that dialysis would be too tiring and would harm his ability to raise his children.

She said she had support from family and friends during her ordeal, and many even offered to be donors, but none were a good match.

“I looked at my family, friends and people close to me first, but they didn’t deserve it or they weren’t playing,” he said.

“I knew the process would take time, but as time went on it became clear that I would need a new kidney.”

When he could not find a kidney in his immediate vicinity, he went online. He created a website detailing his status and promoted it on social media websites.

Perez, director of volunteer services at the Atrium facility in Carolina, saw Sanders’ story and was inspired.

Perez and Sanders soon became close friends, and the kidney donation operation was successfully completed in January 2022. Pictured: Men hugging after surgery

“My wife saw Steve’s post and it caught my attention… I read his story and saw that he had kids too,” Perez said.

“It was something about his story as a father and I was trying to imagine one of the situations where I would need help.”

“I didn’t know him, but I thought, let’s try this – I wish someone would do it for me.”

Perez was determined to be compliant by doctors after being tested regularly.

He contacted Sanders and the two quickly connected to their similar educational backgrounds and shared experiences as fathers.

Sanders said it was clear that what Perez did was to help another father raise his children.

Both Sanders (pictured) and Perez were able to go home to recuperate a few days after the surgery.

“It’s an opportunity to continue living a normal life with my children. It shows Chris’ commitment to being a father and giving me the same opportunity.”

In January 2022, doctors successfully completed the kidney transplant and both men were able to return home to recuperate a few days later.

“Chris wanting to have surgery and give it to a stranger…is a gift you can’t appreciate,” said Dr. Kent Kircher, who performed the surgery in the Atrium.

People with UKD have kidneys that cannot properly excrete uric acid through the urine.

Eventually, it will build up in the kidneys and cause gout before turning into kidney disease.

Over time, a person with UKD’s kidneys will disintegrate and die as a result.