Following Facebook Plea, Man Receives Much-Needed Kidney From Stranger
- Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:53pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Amy Cunningham (left) and David Ensley (right)
In a story that is simultaneously inspirational, miraculous and moving, David Ensley of Stallings, North Carolina, has been granted a new lease on life. Following a plea that was communicated via Facebook, a stranger decided to donate her kidney to David, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
According to the Mayo Clinic, PKD is an inherited disorder in which clusters of noncancerous cysts emerge inside of the kidneys. The cysts, which vary in size, can develop in other areas of the body as well, causing serious complications.
David’s story, in recent years, has been one plagued with heath impediments. In 2009, his kidney failed him. Faced with the prospect of eventual death if he didn’t find a replacement, his family set out to assist him in the difficult task of locating a donor. Unfortunately, his own siblings didn’t meet the criteria. Thus, one of his sisters took to Facebook in hopes of finding a viable match. WBTV.com has more:
Even though she knew it was a longshot, in March one of those sisters, Jennifer Scoggins, decided to set up a Facebook page to look for a donor.
“A girlfriend of mine called and said she had a co-worker that had actually found her match on Facebook,” Jennifer said. ”I thought, ‘what do we have to lose?’ I mean, at [that] point, as sick as he was, why not?”
David claims that he was told the chances of finding the perfect match were 20 million to one — a fairly hopeless statement of the odds. But, after Jennifer created the page, an old friend named Chuck Cunningham saw it and told his wife, Amy, about the situation.
Chuck explains that his wife was instantly moved by David’s need. According to WBTV.com she said:
“I said, ‘oh I really hope somebody donates a kidney for them, that’s really a shame.‘ And I didn’t think anything else about it after that.”
But, the situation stayed with Amy; she couldn’t keep her mind off of it. Before long, she found herself getting tested to see if she was a match for Ensley. After a long process, she was given startling news: She was such a perfect match that doctors said it was as though she were David’s sibling. WHPTV.com reports that she wasn’t surprised by the revelation:
Amy says it’s not a coincidence; this is something she was meant to do.
“This is completely God,” she said.
“We feel like God has had His hand on this from the beginning,” Jennifer said. “Amy said she was always convinced in her heart she would be a match — and she is.”
Having lost her father five years ago, Amy was intent on helping save David’s life so that his two daughters (16 and 20-years-old) wouldn’t have to go through the pain of losing their dad.
Following surgery last week, both Amy and David are doing well. David says that Amy “is a special person” who did what many others wouldn’t have. Both families hope that their story will inspire others to become organ donors.
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purplebutterfly
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 12:32pmThanks be to God, and God bless Amy! I am puzzled, though, about “finding the perfect match were 20 million to one.” I too have PKD, have finished year one of being on a five-year waiting list, and am in the process of having a dialysis access placed in my arm since my kidney function is at 15%. My transplant team never mentioned anything about “odds.” I guess I‘m just curious as to why David’s situation was considered hopeless. Is there something my transplant team neglected to tell me?
Report Post »blessedgirl
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:32pmThe odds that were given to him were finding a match that was as close as a sibling. He was given a poor prognosis because he had so many other health problems that came directly from the kidney failure and also that he couldn’t go for alot longer on dialysis. He had been terribly sick for a long time. I pray that you will find your match very quickly…David had been on the waiting list since Jan 2009. Blessing to you!
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:33pmThat‘s exactly why I don’t Facebook or tweet, I would get guilted in to having a blood test and losing a kidney. Only as a last resort may you call Ookspay!
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 7:39amLife is too short to walk around feeling guilty. I don‘t believe God’s intention is for us to come to him out of that reason or to give, for that matter. Your choice to give comes from the heart, it is your ‘intention’ that God knows and if your intention is a guilty one, then it is the wrong one. Take care, set yourself free from guilt!
Report Post »GodsPuppet
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:23pmGod Bless Amy. May all who hear of this wonderful selfless act, be inspired to find something any thing big or small that they can do for someone else in need. God Bless America
Report Post »forGodandcountry
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:50pmMy sister-in-law is dealing with the loss of her kidneys right now. Her current hope is through a donor swap program in the US where someone who needs a kidney and has a donor, (but they don’t match) is swapped with another person who needs a kidney and has a donor (but they don’t match either). Through this program up to 8 people have received a new kidney all at the same time. Thanks to all of those who are willing to DONATE LIFE!!!!! God bless and I hope both have a quick recovery.
Report Post »Jack2011
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:40pmIf it was a conservative person who gave the kidney and he donated that kidney to person who will vote for Obama, he wasted his kidney and his 2012 vote.
Report Post »lonewolf57
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:36pmThis story reinforces my faith in the basic goodness of humanity and Americans in particular.Thanks Blaze!
Report Post »And AMY CUNNINGHAM and FAMILY!
mossbrain
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:31pmI think I saw that David guy on Chris Hansen’s To Catch A Predator show. I’m probably wrong, my eyesight is poor.
blessedgirl
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:37pmI will assure you that you did NOT see him on that program! I was offended that you would make such a comment. He is a decent and good man who, if not for this gift of life given to him by this wonderful woman, would be very ill and most likely die at a very young age. I know him personally and am outraged at such a suggestion!! Please think about what you say before you post comments such as this! His family, friends and strangers alike are giving thanks for this miracle….don’t put a damper on their joy!!
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:09pmThat was nice. In 1989, I found out that I was born with only one kidney.My sister said she would donate one if I ever needed one.
Report Post »Bernard
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 7:07pmDavid Ensley is a lucky man. But there is a dark side to this story. As the baby boomers grow old and the need for organs soars, the organ transplant Industry also soars making any healthy person a target for the underground to kidnap runaway teenagers to traveling tourists to poor people in the third world targets for their organs. At an average a Kidney can fetch around 20 to 30 thousand dollars. Add to that the heart, lungs, liver, the pancreas, eyes, and even the largest organ of our body, the skin and we have a walking talking treasure trove in our healthy youth.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 6:58pmthere are some good people left on this planet.bet it was a religious conservative…
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