A couple from Middle Tennessee is celebrating newfound health and hope after receiving life-changing medical procedures on the same day. Victoria and Wayne Thornton faced significant health challenges, with Victoria in need of a kidney transplant and Wayne requiring double-bypass open-heart surgery. Their story, which highlights the impact of organ donation, unfolded at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville.
Victoria, who had been undergoing home dialysis for nearly three years, described the toll it took on their lives. “I did home dialysis, and it took up our complete lives,” she said. The couple’s situation became even more critical when Wayne required heart surgery to address blocked arteries.
Wayne underwent his surgery on November 7, 2023. “I had to have them crack the chest and jumper around the blocked arteries,” he explained. While he was recovering in the intensive care unit (ICU), Victoria visited him regularly, providing emotional support during a challenging time.
Unexpectedly, at 02:30 hours on the morning following Wayne’s surgery, Victoria received a call that would transform their lives. Initially fearing bad news about her husband, she was instead offered a kidney transplant. “The girl on the line said, Miss Thornton, we have a kidney to offer you,” Victoria recounted, expressing her astonishment at the timing.
Dr. Jacfranz Guiteau, a kidney transplant surgeon at Ascension Saint Thomas, reflected on the remarkable coincidence. “I was actually wondering, is she punking me, or is this really true? Because for her husband to have such a major operation, not only on the same day, but in the same hospital, was really a rare occurrence.”
Before Victoria’s surgery, the couple shared an emotional farewell, allowed a moment to hug before she went into the operating room. Following their respective procedures, both recovered just one floor apart in the hospital. “My daughter would go upstairs, and she’d take care of him for a while, and then she’d come back downstairs and give me a report,” Victoria said.
On the same day, both Thornton family members were discharged, ready to embrace their recovery together. Victoria expressed gratitude for their intertwined journeys, stating, “It has been the best Christmas present anyone could have given me. We don’t need any Christmas presents.”
Now, as they begin to reclaim their lives, Victoria emphasized the importance of organ donation in making her surgery possible. Their story serves as a reminder of the profound impact of medical advances and the power of hope during trying times.
For more information about organ donation, Ascension Saint Thomas offers resources and support for those interested in understanding the process and its significance.
