A lot of couples claim that destiny brought them together.  For Malorie and Matt Pilley, it was literally “Destiny” that brought them together.  The video game, to be specific.  The two met online playing the Play Station game and quickly realized they wanted to meet in person.  The spark was immediate and Matt moved to Bridgeport to begin their lives together in late 2015.

 

By early 2016, he started suffering from debilitating headaches.  By March, the headaches were so bad he couldn’t keep food down and went to the doctor.  The culprit was extremely high blood pressure, but by then, the damage had been done. His lab results showed kidney failure and he was hospitalized for 11 days, with Malorie beside him the entire time.

 

Matt was put on Peritoneal Dialysis by his Nephrologist.  The process completely changed the young couple’s lifestyle.

 

“We had to stop eating out, make everything at home, no preservatives or dairy, everything organic,” said Malorie, a 2005 BHS graduate.  “We had to monitor protein since the process and make sure he maintained a healthy weight.”

 

Difficult times can drive some couples apart, but the dialysis brought Malorie and Matt closer together, leading to marriage on April 15, 2016.

 

“Realizing how precious our time was together, we didn’t want to delay our vows, so we went to the Harrison County Court House and got married, surrounded by supportive friends and family,” said Malorie.

 

A kidney transplant was inevitable, so Matt’s brothers and father were tested, but had health problems of their own that prevented the surgery.  Malorie traveled to Pittsburgh to get tested and the word “destiny” came back into play as she found out she was direct match.

“I was in shock! I mean what are the odds? We are so blessed and it was such an answered prayer to be able to help Matt,” said Malorie.

 

In July, the couple received the call to book the surgery.  On August 18, Malorie will give the gift of life to her husband, Matt, as they undergo a kidney transplant a year and a half after he started dialysis. 

 

“This journey has only brought us closer and I cannot express how excited we are that is has such a happy ending,” said Malorie. “It is so important to donate organs and to help others out and it is such a privilege to share mine with the love of my life.”