TAMPA, Fla. – Andrea and Aaron Barnes, a couple from Wesley Chapel, completed the Gasparilla Distance Classic 5k race together for the first time on Saturday. This race held special meaning for them because in 2022, Aaron’s health had declined due to kidney failure and he needed a transplant. To their surprise, Andrea turned out to be a perfect match and was able to give him a second chance at life. Less than a year after their surgeries, Aaron is thankful for his health and being able to join his wife for activities like completing this race. The Barnes family will be opening their own fitness center called “Healthy Steps & Fitness” in May, which will be dedicated to helping kidney dialysis patients stay healthy enough to make the national kidney transplant list.
This heartwarming story emphasizes the importance of organ donation and the impact it can have on a person’s life. For Andrea and Aaron Barnes, finding out they were a perfect match was incredible and gave them hope for a brighter future. Aaron’s recovery has allowed him to be present for his children and do all the things he was always meant to do as a father. The Barnes family’s upcoming fitness center will further their mission to help other kidney dialysis patients improve their health and increase their chances of receiving a transplant. This story serves as a reminder of the power of love, resilience, and the gift of life.
