Kidney Transplant Donor “Swap" Creates a Lifetime Bond

Two West Virginia families have a lifetime bond, thanks to a paired donation program for kidney transplants.

Brian King, of Charleston, needed a kidney transplant. So, too, did David Kent, of Tornado. Each had family members – Brian’s wife, Pam, and David’s son, Dustin – who were eager to offer one of their kidneys as donors.

But while they weren’t matches for their loved ones, Pam King proved to be a match for David Kent; and Dustin Kent was a match for Brian King. Thanks to two Cleveland Clinic surgeons and the transplant team at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC), whose Kidney Transplant Center is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, the King and Kent families completed West Virginia’s first-ever paired kidney exchange, or “kidney swap.”

What is paired donation?

Donors that are not matches to their intended potential transplant candidate have the option of participating in a paired donation program (where your donated kidney goes to a different recipient, and in return your recipient will receive a living donor kidney from another individual). Cleveland Clinic kidney donors also have the option to donate to a stranger via our altruistic program.

Cleveland Clinic currently works with the National Kidney Registry (NKR) to facilitate paired donor transplants. Altruistic living kidney donors can also be entered into the NKR program.

“This was made possible by the heroic acts of altruism and love by the donors,” says Cleveland Clinic physician Joseph Africa, MD, CAMC Kidney Transplant Director. “With the current scarcity of organs, this type of intervention can make a big difference in alleviating a health crisis in West Virginia, which has the highest incidence of end stage renal disease in the country.”

“It has been remarkable to meet ‘new family.’”

Both donors, Pam King and Dustin Kent, were devastated when they discovered they weren’t a match for their loved ones. But when the CAMC transplant coordinator discovered that Pam was a match for David and Dustin was a match for Brian, neither hesitated to donate.

“I’m really grateful I could donate,” says Pam. “It has been the best of outcomes for everybody.”

Her husband Brian adds, “It has been remarkable to meet ‘new family.’”

To prepare for the surgeries, the donors’ surgeon – Alvin Wee, MD, Cleveland Clinic’s Kidney Transplant Program Surgical Director – regularly collaborated with Dr. Africa, the recipients’ surgeon, using the two facilities’ telemedicine capabilities.

For the operations, Dr. Wee flew to Charleston. In January 2018, he removed a kidney from Pam King, and Dr. Africa transplanted it into David Kent. The next day, Dr. Wee removed a kidney from Dustin Kent, and Dr. Africa transplanted it into Brian King.

Each operation was a success. Both donors and recipients are recovering normally.

As Dr. Wee explains, “This is a historical moment in the state of West Virginia and for these two remarkable families. We’re honored that we’ve been able to make this vital service available.”

“Having people you don’t even know be willing to do something like this for your family is huge,” says donor Dustin Kent.

“We’re all doing well and things are looking up,” adds his father, David.

Pictured: Dustin Kent (left) and Brian King meet for the first time a week before the transplant. (Courtesy: CAMC)