Magic Valley Woman will Get Kidney, Just not from Who She Thought

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho woman with failed kidneys is finally going into surgery for a replacement organ, even though she won't be getting it from the person she though would be the donor.

The Twin Falls Times-News reported Wednesday that Brandy Burkhart was due earlier this year to get a kidney from her friend, Kristy Buffington. But a battery of tests revealed the two weren't compatible. Initial tears gave way to determination, however, as they joined a national program that allows incompatible donors to participate in an organ exchange.

As a consequence, Buffington will give one of her kidneys to somebody else. She says her kidney is going to a child. Meanwhile, Burkhart will get a kidney from a stranger whose tissue is less likely to be rejected by her body.