Man donates kidney to new friend he made at hospital

(WJBK) - A chance meeting turns into a new beginning for a metro Detroit man with a rare genetic birth defect.

Drew Drialo and Marty Sheedy met back in 2012 at Mott's Children's Hospital. The pair became fast friends. Earlier this year, that friendship came full circle when Drew helped give Marty the gift of life.

Marty has Prune Belly Syndrome, a rare, genetic birth defect that causes a partial or complete lack of abdominal wall muscles. He recently learned his kidneys were failing. Drew, who happened to be a match, was going to donate his kidney, but earlier this year Marty's antibodies changed and Drew was no longer a match.

Drew and Marty were able to be a part of a paired kidney donation, though, so Marty was still able to get a new kidney. A paired donation means Drew gave his kidney to someone else, and that recipient's loved one donated their kidney to Marty.

Dynamic Duo: Man getting kidney transplant through unlikely friendship

Now, months later, the duo joined us back in studio -- fully recovered -- to tell us more about the process. You can hear more from them in the video player above.

"I just hope that we can inspire other people. Maybe not everybody is supposed to donate an organ, but there's a lot of youself that you can give just to make the world a better place," Drew says.

Marty also founded an organization, Project Scissor Gait Foundation, that educates people about Prune Belly Syndrome and helps those who have the syndrome and similar conditions. You can get more information on Project Scissor Gait Foundation here.