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Tinder match helps Florida woman get Kidney donation

Posted at 9:34 PM, Nov 27, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-27 21:39:55-05

TAMPA, Fl. — A Florida woman who desperately needed a kidney found a match through an unexpected source: Tinder.

Erika Bragen, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease, wasn’t even the one on the dating site, but her search for kidney took a big turn.

She found her kidney match, Jennifer Thomas, thanks to her friend Rich O’Dea, swiping right on Tinder. O’Dea and Thomas went on a blind date and after hearing Bragen’s story she decided to help.

“I feel like I have a front row seat to such just an amazing miracle,” O’Dea told WFTS.

Erika and her husband Scott Bragen

Erika and her husband Scott Bragen

After surgery, Bragen left the hospital just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family and a woman who’s now a part of that.

“I hope that they’ll keep me ’cause I love everyone that I’ve gotten to meet through this whole experience. It’s really changed my life,” said Thomas.

Bragen said ever since she received her kidney she feels like her old self again.

“I’m so thankful for my family of course and my friends, I think my kids are thankful that I hopefully will be back to normal,” said Bragen.

The family and friends said they will continue helping other people who suffer from polycystic kidney disease, through a group they’ve started: Team Tampa PKD.