A son's gift of life: Father-son kidney transplant marks surgical milestone at UMMC

A son's gift of life: Father-son kidney transplant marks surgical milestone at UMMC

One sentence carried a powerful message from Kerry Hardges, a 42-year-old father of three, assistant Hattiesburg fire chief and son to his 65-year-old father, Tom Hardges.

"If I could give my life, I would."

The father and son share a special bond that extends far beyond their family roots in Petal, Mississippi. It's a bond built on love, sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to family. But when Tom Hardges's health took an unexpected turn, that bond would be tested in a way neither could have imagined.

For Kerry Hardges, the thought of watching his father undergo dialysis was difficult. But when the opportunity arose to potentially give him a second chance in life, he was willing to make a sacrifice that would forever change both of their lives.

That sacrifice came in the form of a kidney.

The Hardges family's living donor transplant journey began earlier this year after Tom Hardges, a father of four, was placed on the kidney transplant waiting list in January.

He said years of battling high blood pressure had taken a toll on his health, leaving his kidneys barely functioning. As his kidney function continued to decline, he faced the possibility of needing dialysis within the next six months. The treatment removes waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform those functions adequately.

"I knew a couple people that were on dialysis, and they would give me their stories," said Tom Hardges. "I saw the lifestyle as basically locking me down for the rest of my life to three days a week and four hours a day."

For thousands of Americans living with kidney failure, receiving a transplant offers an opportunity to regain independence and improve their quality of life.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 90,000 Americans were waiting for a kidney transplant as of January 2026. In 2025, 27,573 kidney transplants were performed nationwide, including 6,521 made possible through living donors.

Living kidney donations offer several advantages, including shorter waiting times and improved long-term outcomes. According to the National Kidney Foundation, a kidney transplanted from a living donor functions for an average of 15 to 20 years, compared with approximately seven to 10 years for a kidney from a deceased donor.

For Dr. Kyle Curtis, assistant professor of surgery and UMMC transplant surgeon, the Hardges family's journey represents more than a successful transplant. It also marks a milestone in advancing minimally invasive transplant surgery in Mississippi.

According to Curtis, Kerry Hardges's kidney donation marked only the second robotic donor nephrectomy performed in the state. The procedure uses robotic-assisted technology to remove a kidney from a living donor for transplantation.

"While our program has a strong tradition of laparoscopic donor surgery, my training focused heavily on robotic techniques, allowing us to expand the advanced options available to our patients," said Curtis.

He said living kidney donations can provide significant benefits for patients like Tom Hardges, including the possibility of receiving a transplant before dialysis becomes necessary.

"Living kidney donation offers outcomes that far exceed those of deceased donor transplants, and in cases like Tom's, it can spare a patient from ever needing dialysis," said Curtis.

Beyond the surgical milestone, Curtis emphasized that successful transplants require collaboration among specialists throughout the Medical Center, including transplant coordinators, surgeons, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists and other health care professionals.

"It is a profound privilege to play a role in care journeys like the Hardges family-stories like theirs are precisely why our team shows up every day," said Curtis.

For Kerry Hardges and his siblings, the possibility of helping their father avoid dialysis offered hope as they watched his kidney function decline. Determined to improve his quality of life, they began exploring the possibility of becoming living kidney donors.

Kerry Hardges said he and his siblings had discussed donating a kidney long before their father was placed on the transplant waiting list.

"Me and my brothers and sisters were already discussing a year ahead of this what it would come down to if we could not find a donor," he said.

After undergoing the donor evaluation process, Kerry Hardges received news in September that he had been approved to donate a kidney to his father. The announcement came as a surprise, but it was one he couldn't wait to share.

"Being picked caught me off guard because I thought, what are the chances they would pick me. I was excited and they kept telling me not to tell my donor, but they are going to have to forgive me because he is my daddy."

For Kerry Hardges, the months leading up to the transplant were filled with excitement and anticipation. Through it all, he remained grateful for the opportunity to give his father something that could not be measured in dollars or material possessions: a chance at a healthier life.

"The Lord has blessed me with two kidneys, so I have a spare to give," said Kerry. "This is not even 10 percent of what he has done for me. We just want to see our dad live a good prosperous life."

For Tom Hardges, receiving a kidney from his son represents more than an opportunity to improve his health. It means reclaiming precious moments with loved ones and returning to activities that became increasingly difficult as his kidney function declined.

"I just want to continue to enjoy life a lot better than I have done, because I've missed out a lot," he said. "I've been sitting around at home since Jan. 30. So I look forward to being able to travel more."

With the transplant now complete, the father and son are focused on recovery and embracing healthier lifestyles as they prepare for the holiday season.

While both are taking time to heal, Kerry Hardges is already looking forward to Thanksgiving, with a few jokes prepared for the family gathering.

For Curtis, the procedure also represented a personal milestone, allowing him to bring advanced surgical techniques to the institution that first inspired his career in transplant surgery.

"It remains surreal to practice alongside such world-class partners, but bringing cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques back to the very institution that first inspired me to become a transplant surgeon is a true full-circle moment," said Curtis, a graduate of the UMMC School of Medicine.

Beyond the laughter and lighthearted moments, the experience has given the Hardges family a renewed appreciation for life, family and the extraordinary impact of living organ donation.

For Kerry Hardges, donating a kidney was more than an act of generosity. It was an opportunity to give back to the man who had spent a lifetime providing for him, loving him and helping shape the person he has become.

"To be able to present myself as a living sacrifice like the scripture says, this is a great deal," he said.