While they've only known each other for a little over seven years, Nathan Dennis and Stewart King have a special bond, one stronger than many friends develop over a lifetime. In January Nathan donated a kidney to Stewart. Both men are farmers. Nathan, a young farmer, works at Headline Holsteins, a dairy operation, and operates his own vegetable and hay business. Stewart grows hay and raises beef cattle. The two farmers met at the 2009 Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture (NLFA) Annual Meeting. They discussed working together on importing livestock, and since that time have become great friends. In need of a new kidney: Stewart, 52, has been coping with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) for about 15 years. It was initially discovered through an ultrasound, and was fairly manageable for the first few years. But even with good management the disease got worse over time. By 2015 Stewart was taking four hours of dialysis treatments three times a week. This meant a very restricted lifestyle and a diminished quality of life. When someone is in need of a kidney there are two primary options available. The first is a deceased donor donation, where the donor has passed away but has organs which can be of use to someone in need. The other option is a living donation, which happens when a person decides to donate one of their kidneys to a person in need of a transplant. A living kidney donation offers several advantages over a deceased donation, namely time to plan, less waiting, a potential avoidance of dialysis, and a better overall success rate due to a kidney that usually is healthier and lasts longer. Tests and Consultations: The first person to be tested for organ donation was Stewart's wife Daphne. When it was determined she wouldn't be a suitable donor, Nathan, 28, stepped up to the plate. Nathan at first discussed the idea with his girlfriend Ashley, who was supportive. In January 2015 he called Daphne to see if she thought Stewart would be interested. She enthusiastically compared the offer to throwing a lifeline to a drowning man. Things began to move forward. In the year leading up to the surgery, there were many tests and consultations. Since Nathan lives on the west coast and Stewart on the east coast, they dealt with two different transplant coordinators, in Corner Brook and St. John's, respectively. Nathan first had to go through a battery of tests to make sure he was healthy enough to be a donor. During the year leading up to the surgery Nathan says there were "so many needles put in me that I felt like a pin cushion." Stewart had to go through a similar litany of tests, which happened under the direction of his nephrologist (kidney specialist) Dr. Maureen Hannaford. Stewart and Nathan kept passing the various tests and finally the procedure was approved. While many people may be apprehensive or nervous about the surgery involved, Nathan took a fairly relaxed approach. While he recognized that it is a major procedure, he said "To me it's not much of a bigger deal than giving blood." He even joked that the many needles he had in the testing phase were worse than the surgery. Of course he spoke in jest as there was in fact a lot involved in preparing for the operation. Stewart similarly wasn't nervous going into it, but says he believes Daphne may have been a bit worried. Surgery and Recovery: Stewart had his last dialysis on January 20th of this year and the surgery took place the following day at the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Hospital in Halifax. The procedure was a total success; the kidney started working right on the operating table. After the surgery, other than some tenderness, Stewart felt great. Soon after the procedure he was up and walking around the hospital, and within a week he was recovering quite well. Now he has a lot more energy, has no need for dialysis, is able to eat a much less restrictive diet, and for the first time in 15 years does not have to take a blood pressure pill. Stewart arrived home from Halifax on his birthday, gratefully noting that his new kidney was quite a gift! Nathan is also doing quite well. While he is still not allowed to lift anything over 15 pounds, he often forgets and almost gets himself into trouble.Nathan also experiences great satisfaction knowing he was able to help. Throughout his recovery he has been doing a lot of paper work and helping Ashley around the apartment. Nathan should be able to return to work in May, and is looking at going back to his own farm full-time this year. Farmers Helping Farmers: Nathan and Stewart are keenly aware of NLFA's motto "farmers helping farmers". As Nathan puts it, "we were taking it to the next level." Stewart would like to thank everyone who helped him over the years including his family, friends, fellow farmers, the medical staff in both provinces, and especially Nathan, who gave him a new lease on life. A special thank-you goes to surgeon Dr. Mark Walsh and the staff on floor 6B of the QEII. Photo Caption: Stewart (L) and Nathan (R) pose with NLFA's Farmers Helping Farmers sign on a recent visit to the Federation office. They recognize how their story embodies NLFA's motto.   Submitted By: Matthew Carlson