National Kidney Foundation!

Double Donation: Husband and Wife Each Give Gift of Life

When Marcus and Monica Gilbert decided to purchase a Charley’s Grilled Subs franchise in a food court at a Utah mall, the idea of saving two lives was not in their business plan. Yet, that is exactly what resulted. Together, this couple, married seven years, has shared many successes --owning a thriving business, raising four healthy children and, within a 16-month span, giving the gift of life through kidney donation to two individuals.
Like many married couples, Marcus and Monica balance their days between running after their four children -- Jessica, Taylor, Christian and Emma –and managing a business. Unlike many married couples, they found the time and opportunity to each donate a kidney.
It all began when Marcus hired 17-year old Juan Delgado to work at one of his Charley’s Grilled Subs franchises. Marcus was determined to help Juan and his family, knowing that he had a difficult schedule to work around while undergoing thrice-weekly dialysis treatment. He even arranged a few fundraisers at Charley’s to defray Juan’s rising medical costs. But Marcus was still not satisfied with his results and decided to take his efforts one step further and get tested to become his employee’s kidney donor. After hearing that he was a perfect match, Marcus and Juan underwent successful kidney transplant surgery in September 2008.
“I felt I was in a good spot to donate and that I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity of giving someone so young his life back,” said Marcus.
After watching her husband donate his kidney without a hitch, Monica decided she too wanted to be a living donor. So she underwent tests with the goal of donating her kidney to anyone in need.
A few weeks later, Monica was notified that she was a match for a 44-year old named Pepe Sione Lee, a husband and father from Salt Lake City. Pepe’s kidneys had failed due to diabetes and he had been receiving dialysis treatment for 18 months. On February 11, 2010, Monica successfully donated a kidney.
In recognition of Monica’s gift, Pepe and his wife are planning a luau party this summer—just around the time when Juan plans to graduate from high school. Like both their kidney recipients, Marcus and Monica have returned to their daily routines with plenty of energy, which they will use to continue to chase their children around the house.