Love in action: One wife’s lifesaving gift

DENVER, Colo. — For most couples, Valentine’s Day is about flowers, cards, or a special dinner. For Sherry and Dannie Turner, it’s about something much deeper. It’s about the gift of life from a wife to her husband.

When Dannie, a previous liver transplant recipient, began experiencing kidney failure, Sherry didn’t hesitate. “I wanted to save his life,” she said.

There was just one challenge: they weren’t a blood type match, and although other family members were compatible, they weren’t able to donate at the time.

Instead of giving up, Sherry entered the National Kidney Registry’s pairing program through AdventHealth Porter. The program allows living donors who aren’t a direct match to donate their kidney to someone else, while their loved one receives a compatible kidney in return.

In simple terms, it’s a life-saving swap.

Dan Kuehler, MD, Transplant Surgeon at AdventHealth Porter, says programs like this open doors that otherwise would be closed and help save lives.

“It allows more opportunities for people to get transplanted,” he explained. “If blood types don’t match, that doesn’t mean someone is off the table. We can find a way to make it work.”

And that’s exactly what happened for the Turners.

By donating through the pairing program, Sherry not only helped move Dannie up the transplant list, but she also saved the life of another recipient.

“I was actually able to help save two lives,” Sherry said. “And I was more than happy to do that. I even stay in contact with her, and we’ve become friends.”

The call that a kidney had been found for Dannie came sooner than expected, just 13 days’ notice, when families are typically given up to three weeks to prepare, but for the Turners that timeline wasn’t an issue.

“We were ready,” Sherry said. “Time was of the essence.”

Dannie received his kidney transplant in October 2025. This weekend, as they celebrate Valentine’s Day, he calls it a new beginning, thanks to his forever Valentine.

“She’s really my sweetheart,” he said with a smile. “You can’t do anything better for somebody than donate life. She gave me a second chance, and that means everything to me.”

For Dr. Kuehler, stories like theirs highlight an important message: you don’t have to be a perfect match to become a living donor, and you don’t even have to know someone in need.

“Don’t take anyone off the table,” he tells patients. “If someone wants to donate, have them reach out. If they’re healthy enough, we’ll figure out a way to make it work.”

This Valentine’s Day and National Donor Day, the Turners hope their story inspires others to learn more about living donation and paired kidney programs, because one selfless act can save more than one life.

You can learn more about how to donate here.