HAMPTON, Va. — A father's love knows no bounds, and in Hampton, one father gave up his kidney to save his daughter's life.
"As a father I feel as though it's my responsibility," said David Person. "I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Jessica Person, David's daughter, suffers from Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks her body and causes inflammation.
She said she only discovered her disease after giving birth to twins in 2014.
"The doctor said she thought it was lupus, but couldn't test because I was pregnant," said Jessica. "After I had the twins, we did the biopsy, and it was confirmed only two days later after I had the twins."
Jessica almost immediately went on the donor list but was never selected. She waited for as long as she could, but by 2023 Jessica had entered kidney failure.
Doctors asked Jessica's family if anyone would be willing to test to be Jessica's match. David said he would not let anyone else try after he took the test.
"They said I was a perfect match, and that was really the end of it," said David. "No hesitation, just what do we do next."
David then underwent seven more months of testing and monitoring before he donated his kidney to Jessica in December 2023.
It's a gift Jessica said her father will never let her live down.
"He's always saying 'You better take care of my kidney!'" said Jessica. "My sister and I always joke 'Where are we bringing Dad's kidney this year for vacation?'"
Jessica’s implantation was performed by Dr. Duncan Yoder, the surgical director for the Sentara Transplant Center. Doctors told both father and daughter that the surgeries went well, and Jessica's new kidney was performing as it should.
Jessica now says her dad saved her life.
"He's the type of guy who would give up three kidneys if it meant saving his kids," said Jessica. "Thank you and I love you."
David urged other fathers, and everyone across Hampton Roads, to consider becoming a living donor.
At Sentara Norfolk General alone, close to 500 people are still waiting for a kidney.