PICKAWAY COUNTY — After two decades of marriage, one local couple has discovered they are a perfect match in more ways than one. Shaun and his wife, longtime Pickaway County residents, learned this month that she is a viable kidney donor for him — a lifesaving gift that comes at a critical moment in his battle with severe kidney disease.
Shaun Carnichael has been living with renal failure since his early 20s, a condition in which the kidneys can no longer filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. His kidneys, enlarged and covered in cysts, cause daily pain and must be removed before a transplant can occur. After months of evaluations, his wife received the news she had been hoping for: she is a direct match and can donate one of her kidneys to save her husband’s life.
“Today I received the most incredible news — I’m a match for my husband and get to be his kidney donor,” she shared. “Words can’t express how grateful I feel to have the chance to not only stand by his side, but literally help give him a second chance at life.”
The couple said they have been overwhelmed by community support and wanted to share an update as friends and family continued asking about the surgery timeline.
Their goal is to make it through the holidays and the January birthdays of their children, Tristen and Gunnar, before beginning the medical process. If Shaun’s health remains stable, they are planning for the first surgery in February. If his condition changes, they will move sooner at the direction of OSU Wexner Medical Center.
Shaun will undergo two surgeries. The first will remove his failing kidneys, which doctors say must come out due to their size and the constant pain they cause. After several weeks of recovery, the second surgery will take place — a dual operation in which his wife’s left kidney will be removed and transplanted into Shaun.
Doctors estimate Shaun will need 12 to 18 weeks of recovery after the transplant, while his wife is expected to be off work for 6 to 8 weeks.
“We have a long road ahead and appreciate all the love, thoughts, prayers, and support already,” she said. “Twenty years together — and this year we found out that I am his perfect match in more ways than one.”
The couple says they are focusing on healing, gratitude, and the hope of many more years together after the transplant.
