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Aransas Pass couple to host benefit fundraiser for kidney transplant

Sid and Naomi Villarreal
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ARANSAS PASS, Texas — Sid and Naomi Villarreal already thought they shared everything, but now, they're about to get closer.

Four years ago, Sid Villarreal was diagnosed with severe kidney failure.

After receiving dialysis for as long he could, family members said last year that his kidneys were only functioning at 10 percent. Doctors told him to consider a kidney transplant to save his life.

It was then that his wife, Naomi, decided to get tested to see if she could help her husband.

Defying the odds, she was an exact match for her husband.

Sid then asked the big question -- whether Naomi was willing to give up one of her own body parts for the man she loves.

“If you choose to, great," Sid said. "But if not, I’m OK with it either way."

“I wanted to do it," Naomi said. "I felt that that was in the best interest of our marriage — my husband, saving his life -- and then our family of course. I didn’t want to have my children growing up without their dad.

The Villarreals, who work for the city of Aransas Pass, are scheduled for surgery at a San Antonio hospital Feb. 12, but they're not alone on their journey.

Fundraisers have been established to help the couple, including an event 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce, where food plates will be sold for $7. They will have a pulled-pork sandwich with chips and a drink.

Digital content producer Ana Tamez contributed to this story.