by Katie Vasquez
It was a call Petar Vukelich waited months for, a kidney donor. It turns out his match, Allison Joyce, wasn’t a stranger.
“We grew up together. Yeah. We’ve known each other since high school,” Vukelich said.
They were friends in high school but they hadn’t spoken in years.
“Like most friendships, as you get older, you know, and you raise your family, you know, you see each other in passing and whatnot, um, so, you know, we, we didn’t speak very often,” said Vukelich
Until Allison heard about his struggles with end stage renal failure through mutual friends.
“I figured this is somebody that I know who I’ve known for a really long time. and if I could help, I would,” said Joyce.
Currents News first shared his story in May as he searched for a life saving match, friends and family helped him to put up flyers everywhere looking for someone to “share your spare”.
Allison decided to get tested.
“I’ve, you know, have always thought like if you could donate blood or bone marrow or whatever to save somebody’s life, that if you’re in the position to do so that you should,” said Joyce.
Petar hopes Allison will save his life. The Queens man has been trying everything to stay alive, from medicine to prayers.
“I always was a praying man, but now it’s more of not asking so much, but being more thankful and grateful. I mean, I really contribute what has happened, you know, certainly to Allison for her selfless gift,” said Vukelich, “just the power of prayer and everybody being behind me and with the grace of god, this is where I am now.”
As these childhood friends prepare for surgery on July 22nd, they are counting their blessings.
“God is good and you have to remain positive and, you know, put yourself in his hands,” said Vukelich.
“It was kind of just shocking that, you know, it was that I was a match. but I also just felt really lucky that I was going to be able to help Pete and save his life,” said Joyce.