By Kenneth Macdonald
Buffalo, NY – Usually when people think of Valentine's day, they think hearts. For Pearl and Byron Hamilton, their thoughts will be on kidneys.
They have an early date on Valentine's day. At 6:30 in the morning the couple, who have been married for 25 years, will check into the Erie County Medical Center. Both will prep for surgery.
Byron Hamilton found out his kidneys were failing last year. The 57-year-old dairy farmer from Allegany County was facing a lifetime of dialysis or waiting years for a transplant from a deceased donor.
Instead, his wife, Pearl, volunteered one of hers. Compatibility tests showed a good match to her husband.
Dr. Rocco Venuto, director of Transplants at ECMC, said advances in medication eased restrictions on who can donate a kidney.
Current methods for transplant are also much easier on the donor. The minimally invasive procedure has seen a ten-fold increase in the number of living donors in the past six years.
More than 100 of these operations are performed by ECMC and Kaleida Hospitals each year.
As for the Hamiltons, the only thing Pearl asks from her husband for in return is a long life together.
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