8-Year-Old Girl With Prune Belly Syndrome Gets New Kidney From Her Teacher

An 8-year-old girl, who has been suffering from prune belly syndrome all her life, has been given a new lease on life thanks to one of the teachers in her school at the Oakfield Elementary School in Wisconsin. Natasha Fuller received part of Jodi Schmidt's kidney for a complicated procedure, but doctors at the Froedtert Hospital say that both are now doing fine.

Before the kidney transplant, Natasha Fuller had to get frequent dialysis due to the complications of her rare condition. Prune belly syndrome affects the abdominal muscles, which results in renal failure and the young girl has been receiving treatments at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital for several years.

Because she would often have tubes attached to her body, Natasha Fuller didn't get to enjoy the things most kids her age do. She couldn't swim, nor ride a bike, nor hula hoop. So, her family decided to enlist her for kidney transplant, per ABC 7.

Meanwhile, Jodi Schmidt signed up for tests when she learned that the Fuller family was looking for a potential match for Natasha. In March, doctors told Jodi that she's a good candidate and the procedure was then scheduled, per New York Daily News.

Jodi Schmidt told the Fuller family of her intentions via a gift-wrapped message. Her husband said that he's sure his wife was nervous about the impending transplant, but she was determined to do this.

Fortunately, the procedure went on successfully and now the two share a unique bond together. Jodi Schmidt checked up on Natasha Fuller hours after the transplant and said that she's very excited to see what's in store for the 8-year-old now that she can have a normal life. "I can't wait to watch her get married, go to prom and all that kind of stuff," the teacher said, per USA Today. She calls Natasha her kidney twin.

Meanwhile, the Fuller family is grateful for the support they received from the community and the Oakfield Elementary School in particular. They hope that Natasha's story will inspire others to become organ donors via the Wisconsin Donor Registry.