WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Christmas kidney swap

December 23, 2011

Warm embraces between strangers meeting for the first time, who are now forever linked.

Michael Mullen, an investment banker from Connecticut, and Vincent Tilson, a New York detective, were both in need of a kidney transplant.

"We wanted it done as soon as possible," Mullen said.

Mullen's wife, Tracy, and Tilson's sister, Teresa, were willing to donate.

"It's my brother, so there's no question in the matter. So if I can, I'm going to do it," Teresa Tilson-Tomaselli said.

But neither woman was a good match for her loved one.

So two weeks ago, in a carefully orchestrated procedure at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Tracy Mullen gave her kidney to Vincent Tilson, and Teresa Tilson-Tomaselli donated to Michael Mullen in return.

"It all took place at once. We had four operating teams, four operating rooms, all going simultaneously," said Dr. Lloyd Ratner, of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia.

Kidney swapping is still unusual but it's becoming more common. About 1,000 people this year received kidneys through a swap.

"As long as he comes out with a kidney, I don't really care. And if you think about it you also help someone get off dialysis so that was it for me. That's what sealed the deal," Tilson-Tomaselli said.

All four are still a little sore, but feeling good.

Mullen and Tilson joke that they're just fine living with a woman's kidney.

"My wife will probably like that. I'll be more sensitive now," Tilson said with a laugh.

The two families are now looking forward to the holiday.

"I knew I would do it for him," Tracy Mullen said. "I'm just so glad to able to do it and get back on track and have an awesome 2012. We deserve it. We all deserve it."

Grateful for the lifesaving gift they received from each other.

Doctors say another benefit to kidney swapping is that getting a kidney from a live donor is better than getting one from a deceased donor in terms of the quality of the organ.