Franklin wife donates kidney, saves husband’s life
Amy Bredfeldt donated one of her kidneys to her husband Stephen after it was determined they were a match.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Franklin couple is recovering at home after undergoing kidney surgeries.
Amy Bredfeldt donated one of her kidneys to her husband, Stephen, who doctors said kept him from dialysis or possibly an even worse fate.
After dozens of tests, doctors at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital met to determine whether Amy could donate a kidney to Stephen.
“It seemed impossible that we would be a match. Like that’s, that’s really difficult,” Amy said. “There’s a lot of things that have to match up.”
Indeed, the odds of two unrelated people being a perfect kidney match are 1-in-100,000.
Amy underwent numerous tests, preparing to donate a kidney to a stranger to move Stephen on the transplant list. However, she received a call confirming she was a partial match for Stephen himself.
“I was so happy. I actually left the office, went in my car and cried, then pulled myself together, and then I called him,” Amy said.
Stephen said the news was initially a shock.
“I couldn’t believe it as first. I honestly didn’t believe it,” Stephen said. “I was like, ‘This is unreal.’”
Their journey began in 2022 when a health scare for Stephen eventually led to a diagnosis of lgA Nephropathy, a rare genetic disease affecting the kidneys.
Facing the prospect of dialysis or a kidney transplant, Stephen struggled with the debilitating effects of the genetic condition.
“There were times when I’d given up, times when I thought it would’ve been better if I just died in that moment when I passed out,” Stephen said. “Because I’m like, what kind of life is it to live on dialysis?”
By early 2024, Stephen’s condition had deteriorated to the point where he had no choice but to join the waiting list for a new kidney. In a twist of fate, that kidney would come from his own wife.
“Just to find out that it actually is going to happen was just like one of the best days of my life,” Stephen said.
On April 30, Amy and Stephen bid temporary farewells and underwent surgery. Amy’s kidney was successfully transplanted into Stephen’s body, marking the beginning of their shared journey to recovery.
Today, the couple is recovering at home with Stephen diligently monitoring his health and taking approximately 35 pills a day to prevent rejection of the new kidney.
Through it all, Stephen acknowledges the rarest part of their story – the unwavering, sacrificial love he found in his wife, Amy.
“She’s my hero,” Stephen said. “Like, she literally saved my life, and it’s something that I’ll never forget to always be grateful for.”
While insurance covers a significant portion of the $500,000 procedure, the couple still faces substantial medical expenses. Their family has set up a GoFundMe page to help alleviate the financial burden.
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