Sending flowers is a nice gesture. Writing a poem is a thoughtful present. But donating an organ to the one you love is by far the most romantic gift of all. On January 16, Carolyn Smith lovingly donated a kidney to her husband.

Corbin and Carolyn Smith’s relationship has been marked by miracle and fate since the very beginning. They met in November of 1992, when Carolyn’s sister arranged a double date that included Carolyn and her eligible neighbor, Corbin. Carolyn was hesitant.

“I was having a bad day,” she recalled. “I didn’t want to go, but my 17 year-old daughter finally said, ‘Mom, get a life.’”

Carolyn reluctantly decided to go, as long as everyone knew it was not a “date.” She and Corbin hit it off immediately.

After five blissful years of “dates,” Corbin and Carolyn were married.

In 2001, Corbin learned he had PKD. Frequent urinary tract infections and painful cysts, as well as an extensive family history of kidney disease, led to a quick diagnosis and consistent decline. After a few years and several hospital stays, Corbin was forced to retire from the job that he had held for over three decades. He was 52 years old.

As Corbin’s health worsened, Carolyn became increasingly more involved in his struggle. She spent hours researching PKD and organ donation. She even served as the Walk for PKD Coordinator in Sacramento, helping to raise more than $35,000!

Finally, when Corbin’s kidney function decreased to 15 percent and he was placed on the donor list, Carolyn decided to make her most important contribution.

“He gave me his heart; the least I could do was to give him a kidney,” she said.

Carolyn was promptly tested to see if she was a suitable match.

“I always had it in my mind that we were going to match. I always had a positive attitude,” Carolyn said.

Her positive attitude and fearless love for Corbin helped her through the four-hour surgery.

Nearly four weeks later, Mr. and Mrs. Smith are healing well. And although she saved her husband’s life, Carolyn remains humble in her act.

“It is amazing to me how many people tell me that I am their hero. It’s just the right thing to do,” she said. “I never thought twice about it. He had given me the best 15 years of my life; this was just my opportunity to give him 15 more years!”

The restrictions of recovery are not going to stop this couple from celebrating their most significant Valentine’s Day yet. Carolyn has a romantic dinner planned with all the trimmings: candles, crystal and takeout from their favorite local restaurant.

“PKD has not hurt our bond,” Carolyn said. “It has only brought us closer together. It definitely reinforces that the little things really don’t matter. You tend to treasure the time that you have. I used to pray every night that God had given me such a wonderful man; now I pray that he has given me another day with such a wonderful man.”

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