By EMS1 Staff
SEBRING, Fla. — A paramedic in search of a kidney donation found a perfect match in the most unsuspecting way — at his EMS agency.
Highlands News-Sun reported that Chris Cruz, at age 19, learned he had an auto-immune disease that would destroy his kidneys. Now, 15 years later, at age 34, he found a perfect match. Jason Hobbs, a fellow paramedic with Highlands County EMS, is eager to donate his kidney to his colleague.
“I’m ecstatic,” Cruz said. “I’m beyond words. I never expected anyone to do that.”
Cruz’s kidney function is down to 15 percent — the threshold for dialysis treatment and disability status. He suffers from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, where the white blood cells attack the filtration cells in his kidneys. He can wake up tired after 10 hours of sleep, and he can’t regulate his body temperature, according to the report. Hobbs joked that in the summer Cruz has to have the heater on in the cab.
Cruz and Hobbs will have surgery later this year if all goes according to plan. They’ll both be on leave for several weeks.
“I’m on the fence,” Cruz said about his anticipation. “If I get the sniffles, if my white cell count is abnormal in any way, they’ll cancel.”
Cruz’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical costs.