Mobile Couple Part Of Groundbreaking Kidney Operation

Alabama Mobile The Brownlees are thankful this Christmas after taking part in a cross-country kidney swap.

by Chad Petri

Published: Thu, December 25, 2008 - 4:00 pm CST Last Updated: Sun, December 28, 2008 - 12:52 pm CST

Marilyn Brownlee needed a kidney. Her husband homer donated his kidney to Robin Graves in North Carolina. Graves’s best friend donated a kidney to a woman in Colorado. The husband of the woman in Colorado donated his kidney to Marilyn Brownlee. Three surgeries in three time zones made for one happy ending.

Marilyn Brownlee has polycystic kidneys and needed a transplant. Her husband homer found the only way he could donate was through a three-way swap spanning donors across the country.

“She can go places without really getting tired and all that because she stayed tired most of the time,” says Homer.

“It was amazing, it was like God was there and he answered everything that I wanted, it was a blessing god was in control,” says Marilyn. The couple keeps souvenirs from the July 30th surgery--but none are bigger than the memory of Marilyn's mother

“We found out the day my mother was passing away and that was my mothers last wish, last prayer for me to get a kidney,” says Marilyn. While Marilyn says she's very thankful for her gift she also says this could be a guide for others.

“Giving a kidney does not cost you your life, it gives you a new lease on life, it shows you that you're giving to somebody that otherwise wouldn't make it,” says Marilyn.

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