Forget flowers and chocolate this Valentine’s Day, two Queensland mates are proving true love is not heart shaped – rather kidney shaped.
In an incredible gesture of kindness and companionship, Paul recently donated a kidney to his lifelong friend Michael who was diagnosed with a hereditary disease.
“I knew this day was coming, so I’ve always stayed fairly healthy all the way through,” said Michael.
“But the thought of going on dialysis was an anxious moment, and just to know that Paul was there the whole way through was amazing.”
Michael never imagined that a friend he made while playing touch football in the 80s, would make such a generous offer, nearly four decades later.
After realising you didn’t have to be family to donate a kidney, Paul made the incredible offer in 2019.
Michael re-iterated several times that even if he changed his mind during the testing and education process, it wouldn’t affect their friendship.
Paul didn’t waiver.
“It was a no brainer. This is probably the only selfless thing I've done in my life," Paul said.
They had the successful transplant at the PA Hospital in January, and caught up at the same hospital two weeks later to share a laugh, and some lunch.
With both mates on the mend and recovering well, Michael and Paul expressed their gratitude to the many people that make up the transplant team.
“We’ve been really well looked after at the PA, there’s a very professional group of people here, they’ve been very caring of both of us,” said Michael.
Before his own transplant, Michael knew the lifechanging difference a transplant could make, with his father also receiving a live kidney donation. It’s a cause he’s now twice as passionate about.
PA Hospital is home to the Queensland Kidney Transplant Service, which is one of the largest in Australia.
Paul and Michael are looking forward to the next chapter of friendship together and hope their story of courage and compassion will inspire others to consider kidney donation.