Ohio State alumna donating kidney to sorority sister

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- What would you do to help a friend in need? For a pair of sorority sisters and Ohio State University graduates, helping a friend in need meant a life-saving donation.

The pair's journey began on OSU's campus in 2007. Jess Hause and Megan Schultz are members of the sorority Pi Beta Phi. The two said they become fast friends, traveled to bowl games together and both lived in the sorority house.

But in the years after graduation, Hause began facing some medical issues.

“It was insane to go from being healthy and fine and walking and going to work, to literally being on a deathbed,” Hause said.

After experiencing extreme fatigue, numbness in her feet and hands, and not being able to urinate, she went to the ER. The diagnosis was clear.

“Your kidneys are in complete failure, you have chronic kidney disease, we need to start you on dialysis immediately,” Hause said.

She said it was scary to announce her diagnosis. Her first move was to post a pamphlet about organ donation on Instagram. The post, although vague in nature, caught Shultz' attention.

“I’ve listened to a few podcasts over the years about kidney donation and altruistic donation, and I'd always been really amazed at the people who did it,” Schultz said.

The OSU grad figured this was the right point in her life to help give someone the ultimate gift. She began the testing process, first a blood test, then a more formal workup in Cincinnati, where Jess was being treated.

While Hause continued dialysis, Schultz was given the green light that she was in fact a match as a living donor for her sorority sister. The moment was all caught on camera.

“I have some exciting news for you,” Schultz said. “I’m a match.”

That surgery is just a few months away. On Nov. 12, Schultz, who works in central Ohio, will head down to Cincinnati for the surgery.

The donor surgery will begin first, and 30 minutes later, Hause will begin her surgery. Then, she will receive her new kidney.