China is the traditional gift for a couple’s 20th wedding anniversary.
Scott Chafian is eschewing custom, and instead, giving a much more personal gift–his kidney. His wife, Cindy, suffers from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which causes cysts to grow on her kidneys.
The disease is painful and prevents her from doing things she’s done with ease her whole life. Because her kidneys no longer function properly, Cindy has had to undergo dialysis every night for the last two years.
The hardest part of PKD is that it keeps Cindy from going on the family outings that she’s always loved.
The family would go to Busch Gardens regularly, but in 2016, Cindy’s health worsened, and she was too ill to do even the least-demanding activities. She got to the point where cooking dinner required too much energy for her. That’s when she began to get serious about accepting a kidney donation.
Scott was thrilled to have a chance to donate his kidney. A transplant could mean a whole new life for the couple. While Cindy’s suffering was hard on her, it was also hard for Scott to witness. He loved Cindy more than anything, but there wasn’t anything he could do to alleviate her pain. Until now.
The doctor called the Chafians just five days before Christmas and gave them the best present they could’ve hoped for.
Scott’s kidney was a perfect match for Cindy. The doctor scheduled the transplant surgery for January 24th–one day before their 20th wedding anniversary. When they wake up on the 25th, they’ll have been married for 20 years, and Cindy will start a new life.
Cindy will no longer have to hook up to the dialysis machine every night. She should eventually regain the energy that once allowed her to cook dinners and partake in family outings. In short, she will have her old life back.
Cindy credits Scott with giving her the gift of life.
If you ask Scott, he just talks about how thankful he is to have the opportunity to improve his wife’s life. He didn’t think twice about donating a kidney, once he knew he was a match.
Scott nonchalantly asks, “Who wouldn’t do this?” He’s felt helpless for years, and now, he finally has the chance to actively improve his wife’s health.
The Chafians have started a GoFundMe page to help with those expenses.We wish the best to the Chafians and hope that they can spend their 21st anniversary on a beach somewhere, instead of in a hospital
