North Dakota National Guard gives kidney to other soldier

N.D. guardsman donates kidney to fellow soldier
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Nov 5, 2011 12:26:22 EDT
FARGO, N.D. — Two members of the North Dakota National Guard have shared not only duty in Afghanistan, but also a kidney.

When Spc. John Chase’s kidneys shut down, Sgt. Francisco “Cisco” Raatz donated one to his friend.

Chase was on leave early last year when he became ill while vacationing with his family at Disneyland. Once he returned to Grand Forks, his doctor found that his kidneys had shut down, the Grand Forks Herald and Fargo Forum reported.

Chase started kidney dialysis to cleanse his blood of impurities, but then learned his kidneys had failed because they had been targeted by antibodies. After a year and a half, the antibodies had run their course and Chase was eligible for a kidney transplant.

Raatz, 29, still on duty in Afghanistan with a unit of military police, learned that his friend was in need of a donor kidney. When he learned his blood type made him a potential donor, he decided he would be tested after he got back home to see if he was a match.

Raatz was a match and decided to donate a kidney.
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