David and Maureen Santamaria A couple who gave each other a kidney on Valentine's Day Date of Birth: .

1. A Kidney for Valentine's Day
2. The Gift of Life
3. Extensive Testing Before Transplantation
4. The Transplant and Recovery
5. A Valentine's Day Gift to Treasure

A Kidney for Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day, Maureen presented David with the most extraordinary gift imaginable: her kidney. Typically associated with flowers, chocolates, and romantic dinners, this Valentine's Day was far from ordinary for David and Maureen.

The Gift of Life

David, the recipient, contacted ABC Radio Melbourne while still recovering in the hospital to pay tribute to his "incredible wife." "I just thought she deserves to have her bravery and courage exposed," he said. David was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, IgA nephritis (Berger's disease), about 13 years ago. In March 2017, he learned that his kidney function was near the end stage, leaving him the choice between a kidney transplant or ongoing dialysis treatment. Maureen, a registered nurse who had previously donated bone marrow, immediately stepped up. "She said, 'If it's possible, you can have one of mine,'" David said.

Extensive Testing Before Transplantation

Before the transplant could proceed, the couple underwent nine months of extensive testing. "They took photos, every part of our bodies, you name it," David recalled. "We had stress tests, compatibility tests. But I found out about 40 years ago that I could be a match, so it's been sitting there all that time."

The Transplant and Recovery

The couple underwent the surgery on February 13, 2018. In less than 20 minutes, surgeons removed Maureen's kidney, which was successfully transplanted into David. "My surgeon said my wife's kidney was beautiful and said it started working almost immediately," David said. The couple, parents of four children and grandparents of eight grandchildren, are recovering in hospital beds next door to each other, still too weak to get out of bed. "The kids have promised to take me down in my wheelchair at lunchtime to see Maureen," David added.

A Valentine's Day Gift to Treasure

David acknowledged that he couldn't outdo his wife's Valentine's Day gift, so he planned to "get away with" an overseas trip. "Maureen needs a husband who can travel reasonably well with her, especially when we're both getting ready for retirement," David said. "So, we're going to go on a holiday." "She's always wanted to see the Canadian Rockies, so that's probably what we'll end up doing."