It was around this time last year, the holidays, that WLWT introduced viewers to two friends on a lifesaving journey.The Cincinnati men met at a dialysis center in Norwood, both in stage four kidney failure.When Kenneth C. Johnson finally found his match, he started searching for one for his best friend, Dave Harbison.The pair sat down with WLWT once again, hopeful that sharing their story could lead to a Christmas miracle for Harbison.Last month, Harbison finally got the call he’s been waiting for, but when it turned out to be a false alarm, Johnson was there to remind him that the fight isn’t over.”He was the first person I called… I said, ‘I got a kidney,'” recalls Harbison.He’d been waiting to say those words to Johnson.For four years, he waited through kidney failure, through dialysis treatments for that moment.Sadly, doctors said the kidney wasn’t good for a transplant.”I was just so disappointed,” said Johnson, “But we haven’t lost the faith, we’re still in this and we’re going to get a kidney.”Lucky for Harbison, in Johnson, he’s found a friend who helps him find hope, a friend who will stand out on street corners for hours, hoping the right person sees his sign reading “Dave’s Miracle Match.””We’re trying to get the word out. That’s why I take that sign and I’ll go down to a Bengals game or Reds game, and when people come out of that game, they see me standing there and they ask me questions. And that’s how we’re getting people to understand that there are a lot of people out here who need your help,” said Johnson.He says he wants to help others understand that becoming a living donor is a gift that can save someone’s life, someone like Harbison.”I did just walk my daughter Joanna down the aisle and she’s talking about she wants to have kids, and I want to be around,” said Harbison through tears.At any given time, there are 100,000 people in need of a kidney.”I mean, it’s Christmas time, give somebody the gift of life, not just me, anybody,” said Harbison.Both Johnson and Harbison are part of the organization Off the List, which is dedicated to helping educate people on becoming donors and helping match donors with recipients.Harbison is still searching for his match. If you’re interested in finding out if you could be a match for him, CLICK HERE. There you can find THIS FORM to help you start the process.
CINCINNATI —
It was around this time last year, the holidays, that WLWT introduced viewers to two friends on a lifesaving journey.
The Cincinnati men met at a dialysis center in Norwood, both in stage four kidney failure.
When Kenneth C. Johnson finally found his match, he started searching for one for his best friend, Dave Harbison.
The pair sat down with WLWT once again, hopeful that sharing their story could lead to a Christmas miracle for Harbison.
Last month, Harbison finally got the call he’s been waiting for, but when it turned out to be a false alarm, Johnson was there to remind him that the fight isn’t over.
“He was the first person I called… I said, ‘I got a kidney,'” recalls Harbison.
He’d been waiting to say those words to Johnson.
For four years, he waited through kidney failure, through dialysis treatments for that moment.
Sadly, doctors said the kidney wasn’t good for a transplant.
“I was just so disappointed,” said Johnson, “But we haven’t lost the faith, we’re still in this and we’re going to get a kidney.”
Lucky for Harbison, in Johnson, he’s found a friend who helps him find hope, a friend who will stand out on street corners for hours, hoping the right person sees his sign reading “Dave’s Miracle Match.”
“We’re trying to get the word out. That’s why I take that sign and I’ll go down to a Bengals game or Reds game, and when people come out of that game, they see me standing there and they ask me questions. And that’s how we’re getting people to understand that there are a lot of people out here who need your help,” said Johnson.
He says he wants to help others understand that becoming a living donor is a gift that can save someone’s life, someone like Harbison.
“I did just walk my daughter Joanna down the aisle and she’s talking about she wants to have kids, and I want to be around,” said Harbison through tears.
At any given time, there are 100,000 people in need of a kidney.
“I mean, it’s Christmas time, give somebody the gift of life, not just me, anybody,” said Harbison.
Both Johnson and Harbison are part of the organization Off the List, which is dedicated to helping educate people on becoming donors and helping match donors with recipients.
Harbison is still searching for his match. If you’re interested in finding out if you could be a match for him, CLICK HERE. There you can find THIS FORM to help you start the process.
