In early December, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President Brad Dean donated a kidney at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina.
At the time of the donation, Dean did not know who would receive his kidney. It was what's called an altruistic donation and it plays a key role in the ability for medical centers to build donor databases, ultimately saving the lives of more patients in need of a kidney.
Over a month after the donation, Dean says he's doing well, but says "Recovery is a little slower than I'd like. We determined, as my wife told me would probably be the case, I'm a great donor and a poor patient, and probably rushed back a little too soon."
Dean says he understands the woman who received his kidney is recovering nicely. According to Dean, "I'm healthy, getting stronger everyday, and best of all the recipient of my kidney donation, her numbers look better than mine."
