Co-workers become 'kidney sisters' after donating kidneys to save each other's husbands

  • 28/06/2021

Co-workers at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in the US have donated their kidneys to save each other's husbands.

Susan Ellis and Tia Wimbush were chatting one day about their husbands both being on the waiting list for kidney transplants - and as they compared notes, realised they could each be a match for the other's husbands.

"My thought immediately was that we could help each other and stop the suffering of two families," Wimbush told ABC's Good Morning America.

"I called Rodney immediately and he and I were both just committed to moving forward and trying to help two families."

The pair became approved donors, and after a COVID-19 infection delayed the operation, the kidney transplant was carried out.

Wimbush ad Ellis were on the same floor of the hospital as

"It was not as easy as I thought it was going to be, but I'd absolutely do it again," said Wimbush.

"The feeling that I had after surgery is one that I almost can't describe, just the hope and joy that I felt knowing that my kidney could be a part of the process that helped two people have a better quality of life after seeing what they've gone through in their kidney disease journey."

Wimbush and Ellis call each other "kidney sisters" and say they'll be bonded by the experience for the rest of their lives.