College Baseball Recruit receives Gift of Life from His Coach

Aimee Herd : Feb 10, 2011
Ryan McGee - ESPN

"I never hesitated."

In a heartwarming example of selfless love, head baseball coach Tom Walter, from Wake Forest University in North Carolina stepped in for one of his freshmen players, when no one in the boy's family was a match for his much-needed kidney donation.

Kevin Jordan—a Yankees draft pick—was recruited to Wake Forest last year, but soon after the decision was made, he began feeling sick and was ultimately diagnosed with ANCA (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies) Vasculitis; his kidneys quickly beginning to fail.

Two days before classes were to start, Jordan's kidneys were functioning at only 8 percent.

When no one in his family was a suitable match for donation, Walter offered to be tested and was found to be a match.

"The last person tested was Kevin's brother and it came back negative," said Walter, according to an ESPN report. "So Keith called me and said, 'If you were serious, we might need you to do this.' I never hesitated."

The report states that both underwent their surgeries on Monday, with successful results; doctors say they expect each to "recover fully."

Kevin Jordan's father calls his son's decision to go to Wake Forest University "Divine intervention."

Follow the link provided to watch a video interview with Coach Tom Walter.