c. 2003 Religion News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ Not long ago, Danny Budd said, he was knocking on death’s door. Today, he has given new life to the man he believes was critical to his salvation.

Earlier this fall, at University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital, Budd donated one of his kidneys to Lonnie Miller, executive director of the Tanner Williams treatment center where Budd overcame his addictions to alcohol and OxyContin.

“It’s a wonderful time,” Budd said before the Oct. 28 surgery. “I know I’m doing what God wants me to be doing right now. The Lord works in mysterious ways and wonderful things happen.”

Budd, 42, said he entered the 90-day treatment program at Mission of Hope on May 29, 2002. Soon after, Budd met with Miller.

“He let me come in the program, thank God,” Budd said. “The old man that walked in that door died here.”

A few days after he arrived at the bucolic facility, Budd said, he became a Christian. “It’s a whole ‘nother life,” he said. “There’s no way to explain it.”

While at Mission of Hope, Budd learned of Miller’s health problems.

“I’ve been sickly all my life,” said Miller, 71. But about 10 years ago, Miller was diagnosed with kidney disease. Since then, his kidney function has been gradually decreasing; about a week before the surgery, it was functioning at a level of about 3 percent, said Miller’s wife, Carol.

Carol Miller said she thought her husband would have to go on dialysis. “I never dreamed we’d be able to have a transplant,” she said.

Budd said he never hesitated to be a donor. He said he made his first offer while he was staying at Mission of Hope and learned of Miller’s health problems.

“It wasn’t something I sat around and thought about,” Budd said.

Miller responded politely, Budd said. But he doubts that Miller thought he meant it.

“You’re talking to a guy that’s in a drug rehab program,” Budd said. “I kept on telling him that I was serious.”

A few months after he completed the program at Mission of Hope, Budd said, he returned to reiterate his offer. This time, he said, he spoke at length with Carol Miller.

In the spring, Budd took the first set of blood tests that indicated he might be a match. While a few other friends had volunteered as well, the Millers chose Budd as the donor.

In September, doctors determined conclusively that Budd was a match.

Accepting Budd’s gift is humbling, Miller said. For years, he’s often been the person to help others. The Southern Baptist brought his wife and three children to live on the 40 acres of woods now known as Mission of Hope in 1971.

In the beginning, Mission of Hope was owned and operated by Mobile Rescue Mission. But in 1982 the two groups amicably separated. Today, Mission of Hope is funded entirely by donations, Miller said; participants pay nothing for the care, food and lodging they receive.

During the 32 years he’s run the mission, Miller said, more than 5,000 men have completed the program.

“The Millers answered God’s call,” Budd said. “If it wasn’t for them doing what God called them to be, myself and many, many men wouldn’t be here.”

Still, Budd’s gift isn’t one that many others would offer.

According to the Birmingham-based Alabama Organ Center, 20 percent of those waiting for heart, heart-lung, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas transplants die waiting. In Alabama, approximately 2,350 people are waiting for an organ transplant.

“It’s made me more thankful,” Miller said. “He’s giving me part of his life. … It’s a big sacrifice.”

But Budd said he’s blessed that his kidney is a match for one of Miller’s organs. “My family is very, very supportive of it,” Budd said. “People that don’t know (me) think I’m crazy.”

Shortly before the surgery, Budd sat with the Millers in the afternoon sunshine, talking about days gone by and marveling at those to come.

“He had a need, and now he’s meeting my need,” Miller said.

“Amen,” Budd said. “Glory be to God.”

DEA END CAMPBELL