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Last updated on Tuesday, July 15, 2014
(BEDFORD) - Bob Evans and Ray Lindsey share a special friendship.
On July 24, 50-year-old Lindsey, of Bedford, will donate one of his kidneys to Evan.
The two have a lot in common, the both love politics and help with political campaigns, trivia games and work together at Limestone Capital Automotive, a body and alignment garage on H Street, owned by Evans.
Lindsey told his friend of 10 years last fall he was a match and would be donating one of his kidneys to him.
Evans, of Needmore, suffers from IgA nephropathy, a progressive kidney disease. He was diagnosed five years ago during a routine physical. Evans had no obvious symptoms and felt fine at first, but his doctor, a specialist at Indiana University Health Medical Center in Indianapolis, told him he would need a kidney transplant.
In June 2013, Lindsey learned he was a potential match. But he still had a battery of tests ahead, and doctors told him he would have to quit smoking. It was a long process.
Evans' kidneys began to deteriorate and he was placed on a transplant list last May. Because IgA tends to run in families, none of his family members are eligible to donate. By November, his kidneys were down to 10 percent function, and he was put on dialysis which he now takes four times a day, every day, to remove fluids from his body that his kidneys can no longer filter. The process takes about 45 minutes and leaves him fatigued.
Both men are happy the day is finally approaching and Evans to be off dialysis and be able to lead a normal life.
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