Stories of Hope: 7 year-old gets new kidney through special donor

When Toni Price was pregnant with her son Vince, she knew she would have to have a kidney transplant in order for him to live. At 20 months old, he received a new kidney, but not after a few hurdles along the way.

“Originally the plan was for me to give him one of my kidneys,” said Toni. After a series of tests, there was one abnormality to where the doctor said it wasn’t a good idea for her to donate. “Then other family members kept getting tested and there was one tissue that [Vince] still had an abnormal reaction to.” The Price’s signed up for a paired exchange with Intermountain Donor Services. The program matches up two families to donate organs. Toni was all set to donate a kidney to a family in need, and the other family started getting ready.

Toni received a phone call in the hospital while doctors took care of Vince before the transplant. The other line was the donor family, they no longer could accept Toni’s kidney because their father was too sick to take it. The good news came shortly after, “they said they still wanted to give Vince a kidney,” said Toni.

Vince, now 7 years old, doesn’t let his limitations slow him down. Eagle-Barrett’s disease was the root cause behind Vince’s abdominal problems. The 7 year-old proudly shows off his scar on his stomach. Since Vince received an adult kidney, doctors cut from the top of chest all the way down to his torso to put the kidney inside. Toni says the family now has a great relationship with their donor and they visit every so often to get lunch.

If you’re interested in becoming an organ donor, visit Yes Idaho! and click “Sign Me Up”