An Extraordinary Christmas Gift
By: Stephanie Jackson, KARK 4 News
Updated: December 22, 2006
"He calls me one of his little angels."
Those words from Denise Williamson, a Russellville woman who, after reading an article in the June issue of “Guideposts” magazine, decided to donate her kidney.
The recipient is 48 year old Harold Appukuttan, who also lives in Russellville, but the two didn’t know each other. The need for a transplant that brought them together… the will of God, they both say.
"Well… two of my daughter in laws work with Harold's ex-wife… and told them that I had a kidney to donate, that I was going to be a non-directive donor, and Harold needed a kidney so, it's in God's planning," Williamson says.
While she set things in motion to give her kidney, Harold was sinking into despair. It doesn't usually happen this way, but Denise isn't the only person to offer Harold, a kidney. His first would-be donor moved to another city. “About a week later, I got a call from my ex-wife and she said do you know Denise Williamson. She said this lady is wanting to donate a kidney,” Harold says. And on Friday, December 15, Denise helped save Harold’s life. "It's a good Christmas present." "I wish there were 100 more like her."
The recipient is 48 year old Harold Appukuttan, who also lives in Russellville, but the two didn’t know each other. The need for a transplant that brought them together… the will of God, they both say.
"Well… two of my daughter in laws work with Harold's ex-wife… and told them that I had a kidney to donate, that I was going to be a non-directive donor, and Harold needed a kidney so, it's in God's planning," Williamson says.
While she set things in motion to give her kidney, Harold was sinking into despair. It doesn't usually happen this way, but Denise isn't the only person to offer Harold, a kidney. His first would-be donor moved to another city. “About a week later, I got a call from my ex-wife and she said do you know Denise Williamson. She said this lady is wanting to donate a kidney,” Harold says. And on Friday, December 15, Denise helped save Harold’s life. "It's a good Christmas present." "I wish there were 100 more like her."
