Organ donor to marry stranger she gave kidney to after operation brought them together
One year ago Ashley McIntyre had never met husband-to-be Danny Robinson
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An American organ donor who gave her kidney to a complete stranger is marrying the man whose life she saved.
Ashley McIntyre, 26, heard Danny Robinson’s radio appeal for a donor in Louisville, Kentucky, in January last year.
He was 25 at the time and having dialysis for 12 hours a week to keep him alive as his kidneys failed with Berger’s disease.
Mr Robinson’s house had burned down on Christmas Day 2011 and his father died of brain cancer a year later.
“It was just like one thing after another for them,” Ms McIntyre told ABC News. “I was like, 'Well, I'm type-O and I don't have any health problems.”
Against the odds, tests proved that her organ was a match and the surgery was set for April 2014, years before Mr Robinson was expected to receive a kidney from a deceased donor.
The pair first met the month before the operation and kept in touch with texts and phone calls until they started dating in May, Sky News reported.
"As soon as we started dating - not long after that - was when we realised, this was it," Ms McIntyre said.
Her boyfriend proposed to her on Christmas Day and the couple are expecting their first child, a baby girl, in June.
When they announced their engagement on Facebook, friends commented that the story of their relationship sounded “straight out of a book”.
Ms McIntyre told the Courier-Journal:”I never in a million years imagined this would happen...it was a whirlwind.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments