A Las Vegas woman has been given a second chance at life after receiving a kidney donation from her husband.
Roma Polce has dealt with kidney issues since giving birth to her son. Her kidneys began to fail, and she became extremely fatigued.
That's when her husband Dean stepped in.
"Dean volunteered to get tested to be my donor, and he turned out to be a match and he was able to donate his kidney to me in 2018."
Though it wasn't just any match, it was nearly perfect.
Seven years later, Roma says the recovery was life-changing.
"I felt like a million bucks," Roma shared. "I was so grateful to Dean. I felt like I could do anything."
Chronic kidney disease is a growing issue in Southern Nevada, with rates doubling the national average.
"Nationwide, there are roughly about 100,000 people on the transplant list, and about 85,000 to 90,000 of them need a kidney," said Tyre Gray from the Nevada Donor Network. "Here in Nevada, we estimate that at least 750 are waiting—but the actual number is likely closer to 2,000." Gray continues, "The need keeps growing."
For the Polce family, this experience has been a reminder that life is precious.
"I always tell Dean it's the best gift he ever gave me...because it really was."