ATLANTA (AP) — For Tom Walter, the decision was a no-brainer.
The Wake Forest baseball coach considers his players to be like family. So, naturally, when one was stricken with a rare disease that caused his kidneys to shut down, Walter offered up one of his own.
Turns out, Walter was a match for freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan. The two of them underwent surgery together this week at Atlanta’s Emory Hospital, where a healthy kidney was transplanted into Jordan’s ailing body. Both are recovering nicely and expect to be released within days.
Walter said Wednesday he doesn’t consider himself a hero; he just tried to do the right thing. But Jordan says there will always be a special bond between player and coach. He put it this way, “Part of his body is in me now.”
