San Diego man donates kidney to friend 2,000 miles away

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — When his friend’s life was on the line, a San Diego man answered the call and donated his kidney despite living about 2,000 miles away in Wisconsin.

“I think that earning the title of living donor, organ donor, is probably the most rewarding title I’ve ever earned in my life, said Heath Meyer.

With no left kidney but a full heart, Meyer is reflecting on a life-changing decision. It's one that is keeping his friend Angela Navarro alive. 

“In January, I started seeing some social media posts from her family and it was really a no brainer for me to at least just get tested,” he explained.

A rare kidney disease called Alport Syndrome runs in Angela’s family. At the time, she was experiencing stage five kidney failure.

“Any little task -- taking a shower, brushing your teeth -- like it took all of your energy because you had none," said Navarro.

Going through dialysis treatment wasn’t easy physically or mentally. “My heart goes out to all of those people who are on dialysis for years," said Navarro.

However, after a lengthy process to see if he was a match, Heath was ready for surgery last week at Sharp Memorial. Angela was ready also, which meant she would finally get off the transplant list after more than two years, much shorter than what doctors first told her. 

“I’m O+ so for a deceased donor for O+ for me would be a 5-7 year wait," said Navarro. Receiving a kidney from a live donor is usually faster.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the average wait time for a transplant in the U.S. is about 5-10 years. 

Over 104,000 people are on the national waitlist and 89% of them are waiting for a kidney, according to the American Kidney Fund.

“I felt like I either give up an organ that I don’t really need, we don’t need two kidneys, or I lose my dear friend," said Meyer.

Now, the two are closer than ever and check in daily. “It's such a blessing to get a new life and to be able to do the things you want to do and enjoy," said Navarro.

While Heath has a sister, he said he gained another in Angela and hopes that their story can inspire. “Just one person to maybe go out and investigate what it would mean to be a living donor," said Meyer.

Friday is Angela’s one-week transplant anniversary, and it's also her birthday. There's a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses.