A father of two from North Texas is planning to donate his kidney to help save the life of a Mississippi father of five who he's never even met.
It’s a story about two strangers who will be connected for life.
In one month, Jon Seidl, of Frisco, will give Ken Cook, who lives in Mississippi, a life-saving gift.
"I’m looking forward to meeting Ken for the first time on Oct. 12, just days before I give him my kidney,” Seidl said.
Because of complications with diabetes, both of Cook's legs were amputated.
Cook's wife, Debra, found out a co-worker’s wife, who needed a kidney, had a second donor match, whose kidney was no longer needed.
“She passed my information on, and that person ended up being Ken,” Seidl said.
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“It’s hard for me to comprehend that someone I’ve never met before, will reach out to me in such a way like he’s doing,” Cook said.
“I’ve been on the other side as a family member waiting and hoping and praying for a donor to come forward,” Seidl said.
His stepdad received a kidney transplant, which gave him 25 more years with his family.
Seidl is giving Cook a new life, one he said he hoped to share together as friends.
“I was shocked and in disbelief. It really shows how there’s a lot of humanity still left in this world,” Cook said.
The kidney transplant will take place in New Orleans on Oct. 14.
The two men have a GoFundMe page that’s raised over $10,000 to cover the cost of the trip.
They said they planned to donate any extra money to the National Kidney Foundation and the American Kidney Fund.