KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Among the crowd of thousands at Monday night’s Kansas City Chiefs game, one tailgate was particularly special as two metro families celebrated their own touchdown.
Donald Burns found out in May he needed a kidney transplant. After being put on a long waiting list, a family friend came to his rescue.
Michelle Torgerson is the daughter of Burns’ best friend, a man who already passed away; but their families stayed close and Torgerson wanted to help. She immediately got tested and found out her blood type was a match for Burns.
So Monday night they celebrated at the Chiefs game with family and friends and in two days, Torgerson will donate a kidney to save him.
“Humble, speechless,” Burns said of how he felt about Torgerson’s selfless act.
“I hope it makes him feel very loved because he couldn’t be more loved,” Torgerson said. “And that’s really what it’s all about. It’s so simple when you love somebody.”
The transplant will be on Wednesday at Research Medical Center.
Both families hope by sharing their story, it will inspire others to become organ donors.
