Doctors had always told Rick Chappell that odds were one in a million he’s be a match for his wife Barbara, who needed a kidney transplant. The couple from White City, Oregon never even had Rick tested because medical professionals told them it’s almost impossible for unrelated people to be a perfect match, but after his boss urged him to get the test anyway, he found out he was the perfect match for his wife.
Barbara was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at 14, but she’s been declining more rapidly recently and even though she’s been on the donor list for about two years, her declining health and advanced age makes her less likely to get a transplant. But the couple doesn’t have kids because her condition is hereditary and Barbara doesn’t have family she can ask for a kidney, so Rick got the test. Now that they know he’s a perfect match, they’re preparing to have the surgery next week.
Source: Inside Edition