A Niles woman is giving her ailing father the ultimate gift — a chance at a longer, healthier life.

Twenty-seven-year-old Amanda Moody has committed to donating a kidney to 55-year-old Ed Robinson, whose health has taken a turn for the worse after being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Doctors have told Robinson that his ever-failing kidneys are functioning at 15 percent. Once the level reaches 10 percent he would have to begin dialysis.

The only long-term solution is a kidney transplant.

“That’s not really the thing you want to hear,” said Robinson, a 1979 Niles High School graduate. “It (the disease) has taken its toll on me.”

 

Strong bond

Robinson and his daughter have been close for a long time, taking trips together to cheer on the University of Michigan’s football team at home games and participating in the annual Niles Burn Run motorcycle ride.

So when the 2006 Niles High School graduated learned her father needed a kidney transplant three months ago, Moody was quick to volunteer.

“For a long time, it was a matter of how long do I have left with my dad? — that’s how I looked at it,” she said. “At that point I said I will see if I can be a donor.”

Although he was appreciative of the offer, Robinson was hesitant at first because he was worried about what would happen to his daughter.

“If it affects her life I told her I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “But through our education they said it wouldn’t affect her at all.”

Now that he has learned the risks for Moody are low, Robinson has gladly accepted his daughter’s gift.

He still has difficult speaking about it without getting emotional.

Fathers, after all, are there to protect their children — a role reversal not lost on him.

“I was overwhelmed,” he said, wiping away tears. “I pretty much figured it was my best option, but it is overwhelming everyday. It is difficult to deal with. I am just truly amazed that this is happening.”

 

Perfect match

After Moody made the commitment, several tests were done to make sure her kidney would be a good match and not be rejected by her father’s body.

The tests came back positive, paving the way for the transplant surgery that will likely come within the next few months.

“It is very rare to find someone on the first try that is a direct match from what I’ve been told,” Moody said. “I got the call at work (that I was a match) and I had to clock out because I couldn’t stop crying.

“For it all to happen this way, is crazy.”

There still remain a few more tests to be done, but both Moody and Robinson say they are confident the transplant will go forward and that Robinson will be able to live a longer life.

“Everything I’ve been told, it is going to work,” Robinson said. “I haven’t heard anything negative about it.”

If there is a silver lining to Robinson’s disease, both say it is that the situation has brought the two even closer together.

“For me, our relationship is on a different level now,” Moody said.

“It strengthened it like 100 percent,” Robinson said. “We were strong before, but if you ever had any question about her love there is none now.”

 

Donation set up

A fundraiser page has been set up to help with costs associated with the transplant surgery and recovery for Robinson and Moody. It can be found online at www.GoFundMe.com/Kidney4Ed