A Saskatoon couple is drawing comparisons to characters from romance films with their touching tale of love and sacrifice.
Christian Willenborg met Errin Tollefson five years ago.
"We had the greatest two hour conversation two people have ever had," Willenborg said of their first meeting.
On their fourth date, Tollefson revealed that she was born with only one kidney, and that it was no longer functioning properly.
Her father had been identified as an organ donor match, but he became sick with kidney cancer and died.
People can live without any kidneys, by relying on dialysis treatments. Tollefson was already undergoing nine hours of dialysis every night, and her future prospects weighed heavily on her mind, Willenborg says.
When she got a bad infection, Willenborg decided to donate one of his kidneys, if he could.
"When you see death in your loved ones eyes, when you see fear in your loved one's eyes, you're compelled to act," he said.
There was only a slim chance that they would be a match, but tests showed they were nearly perfectly suited. Only twins would be a perfect match.
Tollefson is now in isolation at a Saskatoon hospital recovering from the surgery.
"I have a whole new shot at life and to get it from my fiancé, is just incredible and such a perfect gift," she said.
With a report from CTV Saskatoon
