Man's new bride turns out to be his perfect kidney match

Published On: Sunday, January 13, 2013 7:25 AM
By: David Ross

Jonathan Woodlief and his new bride

A Dallas man said it was a "miracle" when his new wife proved a perfect match for the kidney transplant he needs to survive.

Jonathan Woodlief said lupus destroyed his kidneys as a child and the transplant he received from his mother at the age of 18 began to fail last year, the news media reported.

Woodlief said that his antibody status meant he had to find a match of 99 percent for a second transplant to work.

"So my antibodies are about 99 percent, which means I match 1 percent of the population,"
 Woodlief said . "That was definitely ... just heartbreaking to hear."

Woodlief said he and his girlfriend, Caitlin, decided to go ahead with their wedding. He said his health began to decline this year and he and his wife were surprised and amazed to discover that her kidneys were a perfect match for him.

"The doctor called it a miracle,"  Jonathan Woodlief said. "We believe it is a miracle, and we are grateful for that."