Family reunion celebrates the gift of life

OCEAN CITY - June 21, 2011

This is their 12th annual reunion where relatives travel from all over.

Tomorrow, Joseph Carnuccio will save the life of his brother Frank by giving him a kidney.

"I couldn't sit back and know I'm healthy, I'm able to give a kidney," Joseph said.

Frank couldn't find a match in his family.

So his brother Joseph entered a program through Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and volunteered to donate his kidney to a stranger.

In return, Frank received a kidney from an anonymous donor earlier this month and is recovering at home.

"It's a good deal, my brother gets a kidney, it saves his life; I donate a kidney and save someone else's life. How great is that?" Joseph said.

This was Frank's second time getting a kidney.

17 years ago, his other brother Larry gave him the vital organ. Talk about brotherly love.

"It was a little uneasy feeling, but I never waiver in my commitment to do it; I was happy to do it," Larry said.

Joseph says his donation tomorrow is what family is all about.

"With my family and the love and Jesus Christ leading the way, I can't ask for anything more," Joseph said.

Joseph who lives in California will report to the hospital early Wednesday morning for his surgery. Recovery will take a few weeks so he won't be able to travel back home for another month.

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