Family travels across the country to save local man's life

PITTSBURGH — Bradley Grimes and Edward Frederick share a bond that has changed both of their lives forever.

Grimes just donated one of his kidneys to Frederick, who up until last year was a complete stranger.

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The two found each other after Edward's wife Courtney put out a plea on Facebook for a kidney donor.

They never imagined how far a family of seven would travel and what they would do to make it work.

"It was kinda a crazy thing that someone from halfway across the country ended up being a match." Frederick said.

The Grimes family is from Utah, but when Bradley's wife Stephanie saw the Facebook post she knew she needed to do something.

"When she read their story, both of us felt really compelled to help," Grimes said.

Stephanie wasn't able to donate a kidney herself, but her husband was.

"Not everyday that someone would be willing to do that for you and give you a second chance at life," Frederick said.

Now both men are recovering from their surgeries at UPMC Monifiore.

"Can’t thank him enough for what he did, him and his family," Frederick said. "Definitely a forever friendship now, more family than friends."

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