Walking along the boardwalk at Huntington Beach on a sunny California day, Christine Morales gripped her cellphone nervously to her ear. She’d kept this secret far too long. It was time to share it with her best friend, Debbie Thompson.
Christine and Debbie had been inseparable since meeting in the third grade. They’d had sleepovers and Debbie had gone on vacation with Christine’s family. At 19, they became roommates, met their life loves and got married. They even each had four children.
Yet despite their closeness, there was one thing Debbie didn’t know about Christine.
In 1993, Christine had been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder that causes fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys, reducing function and eventually leading to kidney failure. Her doctor predicted she’d be on dialysis in about 20 years’ time. Though shaken, Christine decided not to tell anyone…not even Debbie.
There’s nothing she can do, so why have her worry? Christine reasoned.
But now, 25 years later, she was in kidney failure and would be starting dialysis. She couldn’t keep it under wraps any longer. Christine dialed Debbie’s number.
Hearing her friend’s voice, the words tumbled out through tears. “I have kidney disease and it’s progressed to where I need a transplant,” she blurted.
Debbie’s response was instant—and completely unexpected.
“I’ll give you a kidney!” she told Christine.
A beautiful gift
Right away, Debbie began the testing process and the two found out they had one more thing in common:
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