This North Texas family donates 3 kidneys, saving lives and touching hearts
Most people are willing to help someone they know, but this family has gone a step further by donating their kidneys to complete strangers.
Joel Nickerson, a 43-year-old wastewater plant manager from Richardson, donated a kidney through the National Kidney Foundation in September 2023. Inspired by her son’s generosity, Ava Nickerson, a 70-year-old a science teacher at Valley View High School, followed suit in December, undergoing surgery at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.
The latest to join them is Randy Nickerson, Joel’s father and Ava’s husband, donated his kidney at the same hospital last month.
“I wasn’t nervous at all, and didn’t have any real apprehension about it,” said Randy Nickerson, 70.
Their collective kindness has been nothing short of inspiring, marking a first for the staff at Texas Health Fort Worth, where both parents’ surgeries were performed.
“We were very inspired by their story,” said Eric Siskind, the surgeon who operated on Ava and Randy. “The important factors of this is it was in one family, and that they were all altruistic donors, meaning they want to give a kidney to whoever needs it.”
The journey all started when Joel stumbled upon a magazine article about a man who had donated his kidney to a stranger. Without a second thought, Joel went to the National Kidney Foundation website and signed up.
Ava Nickerson had juggled with the idea of donating a kidney after hearing about a friend of a friend in need, and after watching her son’s selfless act solidified her decision, so she scheduled her surgery during her holiday break, according to Texas Health.
Then the Nickerson family’s latest addition Randy Nickerson, initially thinking he was too old to donate, soon discovered there was no maximum age limit. Motivated by his wife and son’s bravery he became Texas Health Fort Worth’s 173rd living donor.
“If this person’s quality of life has been improved, then it was all worth it,” said Randy Nickerson.
This story was originally published August 2, 2024 at 12:09 PM.
