Twenty-six years ago, Donnie Parker and Jamarcus Houston met in a small first-grade classroom in Alabama. From baseball cards to long summer days on the field, their bond grew quickly — and lasted a lifetime. They were there for each other through school, jobs, marriages, and every challenge life threw their way.
Then came the test no friendship could ignore. Jamarcus was diagnosed with kidney failure, spending a year and a half on dialysis. Donnie watched helplessly as his best friend grew weaker. Every time he offered to get tested as a donor, Jamarcus refused.
“I don’t want to put you through that,” Jamarcus would say. “I’ll be fine.”
But Donnie couldn’t stand by. When tests confirmed he was a perfect match, he made the decision without hesitation. “That’s what friends do,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Three days ago, at UAB Hospital, Donnie gave Jamarcus one of his kidneys. The surgery was long and complex, but both came through safely. And though they were groggy from surgery, the lifelong Crimson Tide fans even watched part of the game together from their hospital beds — smiling weakly, but proudly.
What happens next will restore your faith in friendship — read Part 2 below
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