By Laura Oates, KTVA 11 News
Right now more than 80 Alaskans are waiting for a second chance at life. Their names are on a closely monitored list. While their ailments may be different, their hope is the same, that they will live long enough to recieve an organ donation and a fighting chance at survival. In a special health report, we bring you the story of two Anchorage residents whose fates collided changing both of their lives forever.
Calvin Luddington and his dear friend are sharing lunch and celebrating life. It's a date Luddington feared six months ago he would not be able to keep.
"I lost some 40 pounds. I was nauseated most of the time and many times I was throwing up when I got off of it, couldn't keep food in my stomach."
Cal was in serious kidney failure and spent most of his days on dialysis waiting for a much needed transplant. Kidneys, doctors say are one of the only organs they can transplant from a living donor, problem was..No one in his family was a match.
Meet Cal's literal lifesaver, Cheryl Facine.
Read the rest of the story at KTVA.com, or
View the video clip. (could take a while to load before playing)