Bride Donates Her Kidney To Husband’s Former Wife Just Days Following Their Wedding

Jun 18, 2021 by apost team

What would you do for your partner’s ex? For most people, they probably wouldn’t think too much about this question, saying that an ex is a person of the past, so it’s probably time to move forward. However, sometimes it’s critical to keep ex-partners around, especially if you are co-parenting or maybe you were able to stay good friends. For one new bride in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she went above and beyond everyone’s expectations and gave an important piece of herself to her new husband’s ex-wife.

Debby Neal-Strickland made a life-saving donation to her partner’s ex-wife. She married Jim Merthe on Nov. 22, 2020, after an astonishing 10 years of dating. Her wedding day was extremely beautiful and important to not only her, but to the couple as they moved forward with their next chapter in life. However, just two days later, Neal-Strickland had yet another important day: the day she donated one of her kidneys to Jim’s ex-wife, Mylaen Merthe.

Mylaen and Jim had stayed friends after their marriage ended as they were co-parents to their children. Mylaen had been struggling with health issues for a few years and was in dire need of a kidney transplant, but no one else in the family was able to donate theirs. Immediately, Neal-Strickland knew that she needed to step in and help. Without any hesitation, Neal-Strickland happily and courageously offered to donate her kidney to Mylaen. Her reason behind her big decision was simple and beautiful, and it helped keep the family together with a bright future ahead.

A Life-Saving Decision

Insider reported that Mylaen, 59, had been struggling with kidney disease for a few years. Her health had plummeted to the point that her kidneys were only operating at 8%, resulting in her needing a kidney transplant. Her son and daughter were tested to find out if they were a match. Inside Edition reported that her son wasn’t a match, but her daughter was. However, Mylaen’s daughter was pregnant at the time, so she was unable to go through with the surgery. 

Surprisingly, the longtime partner and new bride of Mylaen’s ex-husband offered to donate her kidney. Once the two confirmed they were a match, it was time to schedule the procedure. Neal-Strickland’s reason behind her decision was simple. “I wanted this family to have their grandmother,” she explained. 

There was a slight complication, though, as Neal-Strickland was set to be married to Jim just two days before the scheduled surgery. Insider reported that she considered cancelling the wedding since the couple had done so before, but ultimately decided to go through with it and the couple married on Nov. 22, 2020. Just 48 hours later, Neal-Strickland geared up to donate her kidney.

“It was the most amazing day of my life, until two days later,” she said. “That was also the most amazing day of my life.” The procedure was a success, and the two women focused on recovering. Afterward, Mylaen moved in with her daughter, son-in-law and new grandchild, according to Insider.

Neal-Striclland and Mylaen have formed a close friendship since the kidney transplant, and even call themselves the kidney sisters, according to Inside Edition. “This is what the world is about: family,” Mylaen said. “We need to stick together. She saved my life.”

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