A “miracle” in which an Uber driver donates his kidney to a stranger after being called to pick him up from the hospital
A kind-hearted Uber driver has donated his kidney to a complete stranger who was driving home from the hospital – giving him the ‘gift of life’.
Tim Letts, 33, was working on the app in Cape May County, New Jersey, in 2021 when he was asked to pick up Bill Summel from the dialysis center at Christiana Hospital.
Somel, 73, had been in desperate need of a kidney transplant for three years, having suffered kidney failure after developing diabetes a decade ago.
On his way home to Salem, the veteran tells Mr. Letts of his ordeal—but he didn’t expect an Uber driver to offer him a kidney if the couple matched.
“About halfway home after talking the whole way and gradually making friends,” Mr. Sommel says, “I think God put you in my car.” ABC6 News.
Tim Letts, 33, was working on the app in Cape May County, New Jersey, in 2021 when he was told to pick up Bill Summel from the dialysis center at Christiana Hospital.
He said, “If you take my name and number, I will give you a kidney.” I was shaking so badly that I couldn’t even write his name and number.
In order for the transplant to be successful, both parties must have a compatible blood typing, tissue typing, and mutual match. Blood tests can usually identify this.
Fortunately that was the case, and the operation at Christiana Hospital was a success.
The duo are now lifelong friends, with Mr Sumiel describing his Uber ride two years ago as a “miraculous”.
Mr Sommel, 73, had been in desperate need of a kidney transplant for three years, having suffered kidney failure after developing diabetes a decade ago.
Letts has since moved to Germany, but plans to keep in touch with Mr. Sommel
He said: Giving a kidney is the gift of life and I feel very fortunate to have this gift. I can live my life almost back to normal, and this work (at the University of Delaware Renal Rehab exercise clinic) brings me closer to that every single day.
I know that miracles have happened in the past. They may never have occurred to me, they may have. But now I actually have these beliefs reinforced.
Letts has since moved to Germany, but plans to keep in touch with Mr. Sommel.
Tell Town Square Delaware He was planning to head out to meet friends after bringing the 71-year-old home in October 2021.
“I didn’t want to look in the mirror later on the road and think, ‘Wow, man, you suck,'” said the former Uber driver. You could have done something and you didn’t, because you got rid of it or because you allowed others to get you out of it.”
“Good people need good people to stand by them, and don’t call yourself a good person if you are not willing to stand by another good person.”