PHILADELPHIA — Two former Marines bonded by a kidney donation and their love of soccer at the moment are headed to the Tremendous Bowl.
John Gladwell, a Kansas Metropolis resident and Chiefs fan, donated a kidney to Philadelphia Eagles backer Billy Welsh two years in the past after Welsh, who lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was recognized with polycystic kidney illness.
The 2 males first met at a navy base within the early 2000s and remained in contact by way of social media after they left the service. When Welsh made a put up in 2019 asking if anybody was prepared to develop into a donor, Gladwell responded and shortly discovered he was a 99% match. He ultimately flew to Philadelphia, the place the 10-hour surgical process was carried out.
“It meant the world to me. I used to be speechless. John Gladwell is my hero,” Welsh mentioned Wednesday when the 2 males appeared on NBC’s In the present day present.
Gladwell mentioned he didn’t hesitate to make the donation as a result of Welsh has a son who’s just a little older than his personal grandson.
“I wasn’t going to let his son develop up with out his dad being there for every thing,” Gladwell mentioned.
The all-expenses-paid Tremendous Bowl journey was put collectively by Eagles President Don Smolenski and his Chiefs counterpart Mark Donovan. Smolenski mentioned the story symbolizes the unifying elements of the Marine Corps and the NFL. The group presidents spoke with the 2 males throughout a video name final Sunday, letting them know they’d be flown to Arizona on Friday, put up in lodge rooms and have side-by-side seats for the massive recreation.
“The chance to deliver these two guys collectively, their two groups taking part in on the most important stage in sports activities, it’s very, very humbling and gratifying,” Smolenski advised The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Welsh mentioned he was “speechless” when he acquired the information. Gladwell, in the meantime, thought he was getting a spam name when a Tremendous Bowl Host Committee consultant contacted him Sunday morning.
“They’re like, ‘You’re going to the Tremendous Bowl,’” Gladwell mentioned, remembering the shock. “I’m like, ‘I’m?’”
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