We hear all the time about sibling rivalries, and the love-hate relationship between brothers and sisters.  But not all relationships are tense -- in fact, some are life-saving.

Sarah and Nathan Shelburn of Billings, Missouri aren't your typical brother and sister.   Among the first things you notice, they're together all the time.   And they're about to be together in a whole new way.

Eighteen-year-old Nathan was a twin.  In utero, his sibling - in something called a twin-to-twin transfusion - took on virtually all of Nathan's blood.  His twin died at birth, and Nathan's lived with chronic kidney disease all his life.

"I have two kidneys, and both work 15%," Nathan says.  I'm tired all the time, I randomly throw up.  My body just can't take it."

Nathan's health deteriorated so badly, it appeared he was headed straight from diploma to dialysis.  Instead, this brother and sister were headed for a bond neither expected.

Sarah had always said if it came down to it, she'd give her brother a kidney.   Despite some gentle 'ribbing', she never hesitated.

"We were a perfect match," Sarah says  "I mean, he's my little brother.  I know it's supposed to be heroic or whatever, but I don't see it that way."

"Every once in a while she'll give me crap about it," Nathan says, referring to Sarah's joking about his condition. "She says if you keep being mean to me I'll take my kidney back." 

But in late May, there was no going back.  The pair drove to Kansas City's Children's Mercy Hospital - went through the admission process - and within hours Sarah was down one kidney.  Nathan was up one - one that worked.

"It's awesome," Nathan says post-surgery.  "The odds were about 25% we'd have a match and, well, it's just crazy.  I can't explain it." 

Back in Springfield, Nathan has blood drawn twice a week to monitor his kidney function.  He's required to drink 2 1/2 liters of water every day, and adhere to a low-sodium diet.  Sarah is on a low-sodium diet too and both are slowly gaining strength. 

To help the family with expenses:

Transplant Fund:
The Bank of Billings
P.O. Box 70
202 N.W. Hwy 60
Billings, MO 65610
(417) 744-2567

http://www.childrens-mercy.org/content/view.aspx?id=160