Cobb woman meets donor who gave her a kidney at Christmas

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Two women from Cobb County say they are best friends after meeting for the first time on Friday.

Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen was at Piedmont Hospital when a woman met her kidney donor for the first time.

Sue Hoens needed a kidney, and Kathie Neyman, a stranger, gave her one.

“I imagine my heart was pounding. It’s still pounding. It’s such a miracle,” Hoens said.

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The transplant happened at Christmas, but the hospital arranged for the two women to finally meet one another.

Coincidentally, the women live 10 minutes apart in Cobb County.

“It’s very heartwarming. [It] gives you some perspective of why we do what we do. It’s these kinds of moments we live for,” Dr. Giri Vedula, their surgeon, said.

Both ladies had speedy recoveries and are doing well.

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Neyman said she wanted to make an impact and Hoens is living proof that she has.

“We’re kidneys buddies for life!” they exclaimed.

They say it is a bit of a tradition for donors to name their kidneys before donating them.

“It’s Ruby Ronald Acuña Jr.,” Neyman said. She named the kidney after her mother, Ruby, and her favorite Braves outfielder. “Ruby Ronald is doing great.”

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