Husband of a California man requiring a kidney transplant discovers a match with 1-in-100,000 odds: His spouse
In Southern California, a heartwarming story of love and selflessness is unfolding. Mirna Irish, a woman who has faced her own struggles, including a failed first marriage, living in Mexico, and moving to the United States to care for her son who was hit by a drunk driver, is about to embark on a life-changing journey.
Mirna's life took a turn for the better when she met Jim Irish. Their encounter felt like finding peace, a sentiment shared by many who have crossed paths with their soulmate. The couple exchanged vows in Hawaii after five years of dating, and now, they are preparing for a new chapter in their lives.
On Friday, Mirna will donate her kidney to Jim, a self-proclaimed bachelor for much of his adult life who turned his life around after meeting Mirna. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that finding an appropriate kidney transplant donor can take 2 to 5 years or longer. But for Jim, the woman he waited so long to meet is also the one saving his life.
Jim's health journey began with a surgery to remove half his colon after suffering from diverticulitis. He was diagnosed with a 3-centimeter cancerous tumor on his right kidney and underwent another cryoablation. Despite these challenges, he is currently cancer-free. However, his kidney function dropped significantly after the cryoablation procedure and another surgery, leading to the need for a transplant.
The odds of finding a compatible donor were stacked against them. With over 12 genetic markers to consider, the chances of Mirna's kidney being a genetic match to Jim's were roughly one in 100,000. remarkably, out of these 12 markers, four of them were identical matches.
Their story highlights the challenges faced in organ donation, particularly in California, where low donation rates persist despite a large number of registered donors. The difficulty in finding suitable matches, operational inefficiencies in organ procurement, and suboptimal impact of donor registration policies are some of the factors contributing to these low rates.
OneLegacy, the organ recovery nonprofit in Southern California, has been recovering organs from donors at lower rates compared to other organizations across the country, according to federal regulators. Improvements in communication technology between hospitals and organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and better matching procedures are key areas being addressed to improve organ donation rates in the state.
Despite these challenges, Mirna believes she is here for a reason and finds it a blessing to be able to give life, especially to the love of her life. The couple hopes to celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary next month in Europe, visiting Germany, Switzerland, and France.
Mirna's son, now happily married, owns a business selling portable hand controls for disabled drivers. Jim, a business executive and entrepreneur, continues to make a difference in his professional life. Their journey serves as a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the selfless act of organ donation.
- Mirna Irish, who has a significant history with chronic diseases, including a son who was hit by a drunk driver, is preparing for a new chapter in her life.
- In their new chapter, Mirna will donate her kidney to her husband, Jim Irish, to help him tackle his medical-conditions, such as the cancerous tumor on his right kidney.
- The couple will be embarking on this life-changing journey in Los Angeles, California, an area where the National Kidney Foundation estimates finding an appropriate kidney transplant donor can take 2 to 5 years or longer.
- Finding a compatible donor for Jim was challenging, with over 12 genetic markers to consider, the odds were stacked against them.
- Remarkably, out of these 12 markers, four of them were identical matches between Mirna and Jim.
- Their story underscores the challenges faced in organ donation, particularly in California, where low donation rates persist despite a large number of registered donors.
- OneLegacy, the organ recovery nonprofit in Southern California, is addressing issues contributing to low donation rates, such as communication technology between hospitals and organ procurement organizations, and better matching procedures.
- After their kidney-donation journey, Mirna and Jim plan to celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary next month in Europe, visiting Germany, Switzerland, and France.
- Besides their personal accomplishments, Mirna's son owns a business selling portable hand controls for disabled drivers, and Jim, a business executive and entrepreneur, continues to make a difference in his professional life.
- The couple's journey serves as a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the selfless act of organ donation and stresses the importance of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and nutrition.
- Mirna's story also encompasses various aspects of lifestyle, family-dynamics, and relationship themes, such as love-and-dating, sexual-health, and parenting, motivating others to live life with purpose and selflessness.
