Brett Epps with girlfriend Alixandra CiriglianoHere's the message posted Tuesday on the "Wrestling My Toughest Opponent Ever" Facebook page set up to help Epps with a kidney transplant:
"We got some wonderful news today! Brett has a kidney donor! A loving, selfless, caring young woman has offered her kidney, and she's been fully approved! Even better, it's Brett's girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancee, Alix! He's asking for her hand in marriage, and she's giving him more than that -- she's giving him life. It may be the first time in Verizon's corporate history that two employees get married and share a kidney!
"The surgery is set for May 11! We are praying that everything goes well, and we know you are, too. We will certainly keep you posted!"
Epps' plight had been well-publicized within his home state of New Jersey, outlining his health issues, frequent nine-hour dialysis treatments, and providing news updates on potential donors. His former coach had volunteered to be a donor; months ago, a seemingly perfect match had been found, with the would-be donor going into surgery only to have complications get in the way of contributing his kidney.
Epps had learned that his girlfriend of three years was the right one, in terms of a kidney match. But the chivalrous former wrestler originally didn't want her to endure the procedure ... but, in time, changed his mind.
"She was very persistent and did it anyway," Epps told New Jersey News 12. "It really just showed her love for me, and I really can't thank her enough for that."
The couple, who now lives in North Carolina, plan to get married, assuming the surgery works.
Epps had established a GoFundMe.com page to help provide funding for the transplant. At that website, Epps described his situation:
"Up until October 2014, I had never been sick a day in my life. I graduated from Elizabethtown College in PA in 2010, and I had my whole life in front of me. I moved to North Carolina and began working and planning for the future.
"But a short time ago, I was rushed to the hospital with extremely high blood pressure. There, I was diagnosed with a kidney disease I never heard of, much less knew I had. It's called FSGS -- old fashioned doctors called it 'Nephrotic Syndrome' -- and it was attacking my kidneys without me even knowing.
"By the time I was released from the hospital, my kidneys were functioning at just 13% of capacity. My doctor here in North Carolina, an excellent physician, advised me that I would need to go on dialysis in preparation for a kidney transplant.
"Unfortunately, this disease has caught me 'between insurances,' and I may have to foot a large portion of my medical bills by myself."
As of late Wednesday night, Epps' GoFundMe account had raised just over $17,000 of a goal of $25,000.
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