A 74-year-old Wimberley resident donated a kidney to a stranger to ‘end someone’s suffering’

Austin, Texas – Many living kidney donors donate to someone they know, a family member or friend. There are also altruistic donors who donate to strangers.

“I still consider myself a delivery system,” said Tom Duncan of Wimberley. “I am not a great act. I am a small act of great love. So that’s the part of me that I carry with me, it’s really something special.”

This act of great love for the 74-year-old grandfather involved donating a kidney to a man he had never seen in an attempt to save a life.

“If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t have waited that long,” Duncan said.

He was inspired to give life after a good friend of his suffered kidney failure and had to undergo dialysis. But when another donor was chosen for his friend, Duncan realized that he could still help someone else.

“So what did I do, I stepped back and really rethought it, why did I do it,” he asked himself. “And the answer was simply to end someone’s suffering.”

After a thorough medical examination and approval from doctors, on December 6, 2022, Duncan had his kidney removed at the Kidney Transplant Center at St. David Medical Center in North Austin. All he knows about the recipient is that he lives in the greater Austin area.

“It’s really wonderful to know that there are people out there who are willing to help others, and in many cases they will never meet,” said Dr. Kusik Shaw, a living donor surgeon for the National Kidney Registry. at Saint David Medical Center in North Austin.

Dr. Shaw was Duncan’s surgeon. He said if you’re healthy, don’t let age keep you from donating.

“Many, many studies have shown that as long as these patients continue to lead a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet, exercise, weight control, smoking cessation, moderate alcohol consumption. They are expected to live as long, if not longer than the population average, even after kidney failure,” he said.

Just over two months after the operation, Duncan said he was feeling great.

“I am 100 percent,” he said. “In 11 days, I gave up all painkillers, including Tylenol. Started walking 2.5 miles again, that’s my daily routine. I’m not limited by anything.”

About a month before the operation, Duncan sent a note to the recipient through the transplant coordinator.

“I said please don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’m sure of it, I’m really sure. And, just signed, love Tom.”

He sent another note after the operation, wishing his recipient the best and saying that he was doing well too. He provided his name and phone number in case the recipient wanted to contact him.

“That would be a big plus,” Duncan said. “But it’s bonus material.”

About 90,000 Americans are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. In Texas, that number is nearly 10,000.

Waiting for a kidney from a deceased donor can take three to five years or longer, depending on the transplant center. This time is not available for many people who have kidney failure.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a living kidney donor, click here.