Kidney swap connects couples through life-saving transplants

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Before Thursday night the Normans and Slovinsky's were strangers, but a kidney swap last December connected them forever.

Mark Norman of Bucks County and Stanley Slovinsky of Lackawanna County both had kidneys that were damaged from high blood pressure, and were desperate for a transplant.

The Lehigh Valley Hospital said Barbara was a match for her husband Stanley, but she donated her kidney to Mark - ultimately helping four people.

"(Barbara) didn't have to accept this four-way versus just, you know, donating to her husband, but they did," said Mark Norman.

The Normans call Barbara's actions selfless; she says it's sensible.

"None of us were related by genetics, we were all related through marriage, so it made sense if my kidney was going to Mark, it wouldn't have been any different than my kidney going to Stanley," she said.

Kidneys are in short supply. Doctors say patients can wait an average of four years for a transplant.

Thanks to the life-saving exchange, this Thanksgiving holiday will be both Mark and Stanley's first with healthy kidneys.