Living Kidney Donor Steps Forward After Church, Gives Patient A Second Chance As Michigan Has 3,000 Waiting

Benton Harbor Patient Saved By kidney From Unrelated Churchgoer After Living Donor Surgery

USA: A Benton Harbor man who slipped into kidney failure after a sudden diagnosis has a new lease on life after a living donor transplant this winter. Mark Maxwell, who endured months of vomiting, weight loss and hospital stays, received a kidney from an unexpected member of his congregation, Steven Spenner, after Maxwell’s family circulated an urgent appeal at church.

Both men moved quickly from plea to operation: members of the congregation stepped forward to be tested, and Spenner — who said he felt called to act — cleared the rigorous donor evaluation that includes lab work, imaging and psychological screening. Surgeons performed the living donor kidney transplantation a few weeks ago; hospital staff report both donor and recipient are recovering well, and Maxwell had normal kidney function as of last week.

Their story arrives amid a statewide shortage: nearly 3,000 people in Michigan were waiting for an organ transplant in early 2026, with the majority awaiting kidneys. Maxwell and his family hope the unexpected match will spotlight the need for living donors and encourage testing so others can find timely, compatible options.

The case underscores how community appeals and one person’s decision to step forward can change outcomes. Maxwell’s recovery — and Spenner’s quick return to routine life — illustrate the clinical advances and human choices that power modern kidney transplantation.

Video originally published on 2026-03-13 20:04:14