Surgery date nears for woman who found kidney donor with car ad

In less than 24 hours, Brent Kruger will donate one of his kidneys to Debbie Onishenko, who was a complete stranger to him six months ago.

Today, he calls her family.

Brent Kruger. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM file photo)

Kruger told Gormley on Monday he recalls it being a “light bulb moment” when he heard about Onishenko’s sign on the back of her car that read “Kidney Needed Type O 306-249-1971. Share Your Spare.”

Fast forward to now. Onishenko, a 61-year-old who has had diabetes her entire life and only nine per cent kidney function left, will now have a new start.

“To realize that as of (Tuesday) her life will completely change has been pretty overwhelming,” Kruger said.

Kruger said he will be in the operating room early Tuesday morning, noting there is a short time window for the transplant to happen.

“They (will) take my kidney out and put it through a perfusion machine, and they (will) keep it alive in the OR until it’s ready to go into Debbie,” he explained.

Kruger told Gormley he even wrote a letter to his kidney which he named “Stitch” before his surgery. He got the name from the Disney movie “Lilo and Stitch.”

“I chose Stitch because in the movie there is a word named ‘ohana,’ and ‘ohana’ means family (in the Hawaiian dialect) … I believe strongly that Debbie and I are now family,” he said.

In Kruger’s letter, he thanks his kidney for the many adventures they’ve shared over their 42 years together.

“Ever since this journey started for us, I’ve been much more mindful of your presence … You’re about to start a new adventure in someone else’s body, and you will change their life. What a legacy you’re going to lead,” the letter reads.

Kruger said there has been nothing but 100 per cent support from family and friends. He said it’s been overwhelming to see how many people his story has reached.

He added that Onishenko’s family has also reached out with gratitude.

Kruger said he doesn’t feel apprehensive about going into surgery Tuesday and doesn’t need to be nervous because he’s in good hands.

“I’ve always been a generous person, and this is just one way to extend that generosity,” Kruger said.