Husband of a California man with a kidney transplant need proves to be a rare 1-in-100,000 match
In a heartwarming turn of events, Mirna Irish, an English teacher, is set to donate a kidney to her husband Jim Irish on Friday. The couple, who met on a dating app and got married in Hawaii five years ago, have faced numerous challenges but remain strong in their love and commitment to each other.
Jim Irish, a former business executive, had been managing a kidney issue for about two decades before complications arose. A 3-centimeter cancerous tumor was discovered on his right kidney during a surgery to remove half his colon due to diverticulitis. The surgery resulted in his kidney function dropping by more than half, necessitating a kidney transplant.
The search for a suitable donor can take anywhere from two to five years or longer. Finding a genetic match is even more challenging, with odds of one in 100,000. Remarkably, Mirna Irish was found to be a genetic match for her husband, a rare occurrence given that spouses are not typically genetically related.
The medical evaluation process for potential living donors is rigorous, involving thorough health assessments, physical exams, and HLA (human leukocyte antigen) testing to determine tissue compatibility. In cases where a direct match is unavailable, paired kidney donation programs may be utilised to increase matches through algorithmic pairing of donors and recipients across multiple pairs.
The couple's story is a testament to the power of love and selflessness. Mirna, who has faced her own struggles, including a divorce and moving to the United States to care for her son who was hit by a drunk driver and left in a wheelchair, believes she is here for a reason. She finds it a blessing to be able to give life, especially to the love of her life.
As the couple prepares for their ninth wedding anniversary next month in Europe, visiting Germany, Switzerland, and France, they reflect on their journey and the incredible bond they share. Their story serves as a reminder of the power of love and the importance of organ donation.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network estimates that another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. If you are considering becoming an organ donor, please consider registering and giving the gift of life to someone in need.
[1] National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Living Donor Kidney Transplantation. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/finding-donor/living-donor
[2] OneLegacy. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.onelegacy.org/about-us
[3] National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Wait Times. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/finding-donor/kidney-waiting-list
[4] National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Living Donor Evaluation. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/finding-donor/living-donor-evaluation
[5] National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Paired Donation. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/finding-donor/paired-donation
- Mirna Irish, an English teacher, is a rare genetic match for her husband Jim Irish, a former business executive.
- Jim Irish's kidney function dropped by more than half due to a 3-centimeter cancerous tumor discovered during surgery for diverticulitis.
- The search for a kidney donor can take between 2 to 5 years or longer, with odds of one in 100,000 for a genetic match.
- The medical evaluation process for potential living donors involves thorough health assessments, physical exams, and HLA testing.
- In cases where a direct match is unavailable, paired kidney donation programs may be utilised to increase matches through algorithmic pairing of donors and recipients.
- The couple's story highlights the power of love and selflessness, as Mirna Irish believes she is here to give life, especially to the love of her life.
- Organ donation is a reminder of the power of love and the importance of giving the gift of life to someone in need.
- The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network estimates that another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
- The National Kidney Foundation provides resources on living donor kidney transplantation, wait times, living donor evaluation, and paired donation.
- OneLegacy is another organization that offers resources about organ donation and transplantation.
- Health and wellness, including chronic diseases like cancer and respiratory conditions, digestive health, eye health, hearing, skin care, and mental health, are critical factors in the medical evaluation process for potential living donors.
- Fitness and exercise, nutrition, aging, and weight management play a key role in maintaining good health and increasing the chances of being a suitable donor.
- Therapies and treatments for medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, and skin conditions may also be assessed during the donor evaluation process.
- Mental health, including conditions like depression and anxiety, can impact the decision to become a donor.
- Mens' health, including issues like prostate cancer and cardiovascular health, are also important considerations in the donor evaluation process.
- Womens' health, including reproductive health, sexual health, and conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, can also affect the ability to donate a kidney.
- Family dynamics and relationships, as well as lifestyle choices like smoking and drug use, will also be taken into account during the donor evaluation process.
