Georgia - A little boy from Georgia needed a new kidney shortly after his birth, and in an emotional twist, his late cousin turned out to be his savior.
Two-year‑old John Miller was born with hydronephrosis, local TV station 13WMAZ reports. This means urine backs up in the kidney, causing a pathological swelling of the organ.
At just five weeks old, his condition worsened. At that point, the little boy was air‑lifted to the hospital with stage‑five kidney failure, as a press release from the Children's Hospital in Atlanta stated.
His family moved from place to place to find suitable care for John. During his first year of life, the boy had to be hospitalized nearly ten times.
In March, the toddler was able to gain a substantial amount of weight thanks to a feeding tube. From then on, he was finally ready to be placed on the transplant list.
Two months later, a tragic blow struck the Miller family: John's older cousin, Lance, died in a motorcycle accident.
The family made the crucial decision that he should become an organ donor.
John is on the road to recovery after life-saving transplant
Kris Miller, the sick child's father, told 13WMAZ that the kidney was a nearly perfect match for little John.
"My dad and Lance's dad were twin brothers. That's why the match was so great genetically," he explained.
On June 3, the two‑year‑old finally received a successful transplant using his deceased cousin's healthy kidney.
It was a challenge for the doctors, as Lance was an adult.
John has been better than ever since – he plays nonstop and has far more energy!
"This milestone reflects decades of collaboration, research and compassionate care that have helped thousands of children receive a second chance at life," said Donna Hyland, CEO of the children's hospital, in a press release.
"We're proud to provide innovative, world-class care that gives these patients the gift of life."