A friendship that keeps giving

Deirdre Newman

Their passion for music initially brought them together. Their

faith in God infused their music and sustained their friendship. And

it was divine intervention, they say, that matched them up for a

kidney transplant.

Kim Milbrandt, 47, of Portola Hills desperately needed a new

kidney because hers were slowly being rendered useless by a 21-year

fight against lupus.

Her hope was fading as family and longtime friends were rejected

as potential donors.

But Milbrandt, a devout Christian, never lost faith.

Ultimately, a kidney came from a friend she had known for only

four years -- Mike Teague, 47, an animal control officer with the

Newport Beach Police Department who shared her love for music and her

unquestionable faith in God.

“You can’t help but get your faith strengthened in God seeing how

everything came together,” Teague said. “It just doesn’t happen by

chance.”

Milbrandt and Teague first met when she and another bandmate who

played in a praise and worship band at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa

were looking for a guitar player. They ultimately found Teague and

another guitar player, and formed a band called Sweet Peace.

When they met in 1998, Milbrandt’s kidneys were failing, forcing

her to go on dialysis. She began the search for a kidney donor,

turning first to her husband of 22 years, Edward, then to other

relatives and close friends.

All were rejected.

One afternoon during practice, Teague offhandedly remarked that if

the last friend Milbrandt had asked to be tested did not match, he

would apply.

He kept his word.

“A friend needed help, and I’m comfortable if something were to

[have] happened afterward,” Teague said. “I know where I’m going. I

knew God was completely involved. It was a very easy decision.”

After consulting with wife Christy, Teague went to UCLA for the

standard blood work and X-rays to see if he was a match. The typical

three-month process took a lot longer.

“They poked and prodded him for 10 months,” Milbrandt said, which

turned out to be good timing because Milbrandt encountered some

health problems during that period that would have been more harmful

after a kidney transplant.

Teague’s kidney karma was right on target as he turned out to be

an organ match as well as a tissue match.

“When you have a tissue match, the longevity of the [new] kidney

is longer, which means you don’t have to take as many anti-rejection

drugs,” Milbrandt said.

K-Day occurred on May 29 at UCLA and, fortunately for Teague,

doctors were able to use a low-invasive technique called laparoscopic

surgery to remove one of his kidneys. His operation took about 3 1/2

hours.

Milbrandt’s surgery was longer, and she endured complications and

bleeding afterward that required her to be whisked away to the

intensive care unit.

Teague recovered quickly enough to go home the next day, which

relieved Milbrandt.

“It blessed me to see that he was up and looking like himself,”

she said.

Three months later, Milbrandt is starting to notice a surge in

energy.

“But I’m as tired as can be,” Teague joked.

While Milbrandt is still struggling with lupus, she is no longer

on dialysis. She is eternally grateful to Teague, Christy and their

three children for his selfless act, she said.

“Now I consider him a double bro -- a brother in the Lord and a

brother in flesh and blood,” Milbrandt said. “I’m waiting to get his

guitar talent, and I like his sense of humor too.”

While Sweet Peace is no longer together, Milbrandt and Teague said

they would like to create a CD containing some songs that reflect

their remarkable relationship.

“I saw God do a lot of miracles through this and want to share

that experience,” Milbrandt said. “I’m anxious to get back into

music.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.