GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Rob Burrow describes feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and excited about meeting his soon-to-be kidney donor Nellie Fischer for the very first time.
"It's nice to finally meet him, you know? And it's exciting!" said 19-year-old Nellie Fischer from North Dakota.
Nellie Fischer just happens to work with Rob's sister, Michelle. Nellie say's she's wanted to be a donor since she was 13.
"We heard something on the radio about something that you wanted to do, she goes, 'I always wanted to donate a kidney,' and I was like, 'excuse me, my brother needs a kidney!'" saidRob's sister, Michelle Burrows.
Rob's battle with diabetes began at just 13 months old.
"I want to get back to the old me. I want to get back to doing everything. I feel like this last year, I've just been missing out on everything," Burrows.
For the past year, Rob Burrows has searched desperately for a kidney donor.
Despite many willing donors, none were able to give. Until now.
This Monday, Nellie will donate her kidney to Rob.
"I'm trying to think about what it's going to be like waking up and [be] like, [I'm] missing an organ!" Fischer said.
"I feel blessed because, I mean, I know there are so many people that are waiting on the transplant waiting list. And they wait for years," Burrows said.
Luckily for Rob, a new friend he's only known for a few months, is giving him a chance to add years to his life.
"I feel really privileged that I can be the one to do it for him. I'm happy I get to be a part of his life and to be the one to do it...I really want to get out there for people to get tested because, you know, there's a long, long donor test and it's really not a painful process," Fischer said.
Nellie and her mother will spend the weekend getting to know Rob and his family before surgery on Monday. If you would like to donate towards their medical costs, click here.
Click here to view our previous story about Rob and Nellie.
