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Woman Donates Kidney To Former Classmate's Son After Seeing Facebook Plea

By Anne Collins | Update Date: Feb 09, 2017 07:00 AM EST

In December, Ryan Wagner was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a week after his wife found out she was pregnant with their son. Wagner thought it was just a stomach bug at first. People diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer are usually given five years to live.

The couple from Illinois decided to create a Facebook page to update family and friends about his health. Miles was born in August 2014. At 8-weeks-old, Miles already had his first seizure.

Miles was rushed to a nearby hospital then had to be transferred to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. Doctors found he had kidney failure and diagnosed him with a rare genetic condition called primary hyperoxaluria. They didn't know they would need the Facebook page two years later to find a kidney donor for their toddler, Miles.

The family turned to their Facebook page for help as Miles needed both a liver and kidney transplant. Miles immediately started dialysis as the condition caused organ damage.

KRMG reported that Miles luckily received a liver from a deceased donor last January, but the family was still in search for a kidney. Six months after his liver operation, doctors said he was finally strong enough for a kidney transplant. But waiting on a list could take six years.

According to Fox News For the second time, they were lucky to find Wagner's former classmate, Elizabeth Wolodkiewicz who saw the post and volunteered. Miles and Wolodkiewicz had the same blood type and underwent successful surgery on Monday.

The two are now recovering at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The family thanked the dialysis nurses and technicians who they said have become like family to them.

They also mentioned the Floor 20 and PICU nurses who have taken good care of Miles. Along with doctors, surgeons, family, friends Team Ryan, Abby (Miles' liver donor) and Liz (Miles' kidney donor).

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