After months of waiting in line for a kidney transplant, a Minnesota school custodian was blessed with the selfless gift of a kidney from someone he knew. Needing a kidney transplant can be a frightening experience, but this kind-hearted gesture provided a glimmer of hope that all was not lost. 

Patrick Mertens, a 64-year-old janitor at Kimball Elementary School, Minnesota, was in dire need of a kidney transplant and too afraid to tell his co-workers about it. Even though his colleagues had already set up a fundraiser to support his dialysis, he kept quiet, not wanting to be a burden. 

In 2018, Patrick Mertens was jolted awake by a sharp pain in the middle of the night. Little did he know that this pain would mark the beginning of a journey filled with uncertainties. After going to the emergency room, he was informed that his kidneys were failing and that finding a matching donor could take anywhere from three to ten years. 

It’s a heartbreaking reality for Patrick and his wife, Lynda. Patrick has Type O blood, which means he can donate to anyone but can only receive transfusions from another Type O. 

At Kimball Elementary School, it was no secret that Patrick Mertens needed to leave school three times a week to receive dialysis treatment. To show their support, the local community united to organize the “Hats for Pat” fundraiser to raise money for his transportation costs. 

Dialysis is a form of treatment for kidney failure that uniquely helps the body. It filters the individual’s blood and removes unwanted toxins, waste, and other products. 

Kayla was desperate. Her father’s health was deteriorating, yet he refused to accept help. Desperate to get him the medical attention he needed, Kayla took to Facebook, posting her story and plea for help. 

Erin Durga, in an interview with CNN, revealed how a post by a stranger’s daughter motivated her to do something big for someone in need. She said, “I’d been wanting to do something big for someone, but I just didn’t know what it was going to be…when I read the post from his daughter, I just got chills.”

Erin Durga was no stranger to Patrick Mertens, as they had both worked at the same school – Erin as a third-grade teacher and Patrick as a custodian. Their relationship, however, went much deeper than that. 

When Erin found out her friend Pat needed a kidney, she didn’t hesitate to step up. She knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task, but she was determined. In an interview with The Washington Post, she said, “I felt in my heart, from the very beginning, that this was my thing”

Erin Durga had the courageous mission to save the life of her friend, Patrick. To do that, she had to go through a series of tests to make sure she was a suitable match. These tests are incredibly important as an incompatible kidney transplant can be fatal. 

Erin Durga was a true angel. When her test results came back as a match, she had a new mission in life: to donate her kidney to Patrick Mertens. She drove straight to his house wearing a black shirt that boldly declared “DONOR” and showed up on his doorstep. 

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Patrick Mertens knew he needed a new kidney as soon as possible. Despite the delays, everyone was determined to get him healthy again as soon as possible. 

Erin Durga and Patrick Mertens were both embarking on a monumental journey, one that would take them through a surgery that could determine the course of their lives. Understandably, both their families were anxious and filled with apprehension. 

Patrick Mertens and Erin Durga as well as their families were in luck: the success rates for kidney transplants are surprisingly high. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, the majority of individuals who receive a kidney survive at least one year after the surgery. 

When Erin Durga offered to donate a kidney to Patrick Mertens, she was giving the gift of life in more ways than one. As it turns out, the survival rate for living donors is incredibly high, with studies showing that of 3,700 donors, only 11 of them later required dialysis or transplant, lower than the general population. 

After months of waiting and worrying, the much-anticipated surgery day for Patrick Mertens had finally arrived. Nervousness and anticipation filled the Mertens family as they arrived at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. 

The news of the successful kidney transplant of Patrick and Erin was music to everyone’s ears. They both were doing perfectly fine. Just like Erin had said, everything went as planned. 

After a successful surgery, Patrick and Erin faced a long road to recovery. However, the journey only served to strengthen their bond. Patrick and Erin realized that they wanted to be in each other’s worlds for the rest of their lives and were overjoyed at the thought. 

Patrick Mertens and Erin are flourishing in their new lives, thanks to the second chance Patrick was given. Patrick spends his free time deer hunting, building birdhouses, and driving around in his favorite truck.

The Mertens family is eternally thankful to Erin for her selfless act of courage that saved Patrick’s life. On Thanksgiving, they showed their appreciation to her with a heartfelt call and a special bouquet of flowers.