Troy Miller and Deb Bradford were strangers until a month ago.
It was because Bradford heard from her co-workers at Zimmer that Miller needed a kidney that Miller will now get the help he needs.
Miller and Bradford will undergo five-hour surgeries Aug. 20. Bradford will donate her left kidney to Miller that will go in his right side.
The surgeries will be at Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, where Bradford has been on a waiting list for the past year to receive a kidney.
An average of 4,000 people a year die waiting for a kidney, and the longer people wait for a kidney the shorter their life expectancy will be, Bradford said.
The average time it takes for a person who is on a waiting list before they receive a kidney is four to five years.
Bradford, 47, Warsaw, is an inventory consultant at Zimmer, and is single with three adult children.
Bradford works at Zimmer with Miller's dad, Roger, and had heard from her co-workers that Miller was sick and needed help.
Miller, 35, Etna Green, a single father with five children, has been out of a job since last August and was told a year ago he would need a new kidney.
He has been on kidney dialysis for the past year.
In 2003, Miller began experiencing excessive exhaustion, and went to the doctor who informed him he had high blood pressure. He also was diagnosed with a kidney disfunction in both of his kidneys.
He was put on blood pressure medicine and his friends and family were checked to see if they could be a match for a kidney, but they were not a match.
Bradford heard from her co-workers that Miller was ill in the hospital with a staff infection in his spine in March 2010.
"I was in a lot of pain and it hurt to sit and stand, and I was on antibiotics for six weeks," Miller said.
Bradford decided to call Miller's dad to see what she could do to help and suggested she donate her kidney.
Bradford underwent blood and physical tests to see if she qualified to donate her kidney to Miller.
In June, physicians at I.U. Med Center called her and let her know she was a match and could donate her kidney to Miller.
"All I could think was I would never want my three children to suffer like this and me not be able to help them," Bradford said. "If all I am left with is a 4-inch scar by my belly button from the surgery, and I can give Troy his life back, it is all worth it."
Bradford called Miller's father to let him know the good news, and his father called him to inform him a kidney donor had been found.
Their families met last month to celebrate.
"It was incredible and I was speechless to know there was someone out there that would be willing to do this to help me," Miller said.
Miller's dad also is appreciative of Bradford donating her kidney.
"It's a miracle to our family, and it is humbling to know Deb is donating her kidney to my son," Roger said.
A benefit fundraiser will be Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Spike's Beach Bar and Grill.
Proceeds from the benefit will help with Miller's surgery expenses. They also will help cover hotel expenses for Bradford's and Miller's families who will stay at a hotel in Indianapolis while Miller and Bradford undergo surgeries.
During the benefit, live music will be performed by Random Play. There also will be cornhole, a dunk tank, silent auction and volleyball.
There is a $5 cover charge.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase at Spike's.
