TAMPA, Fla. — Raj Guntuku was an active 13-year-old boy, but doctors told him he had chronic kidney disease and would need a transplant in September.
"The first few times with dialysis, maybe I was a little nervous, but after that, I got used to it," said Raj.
Raj's family did everything they could to try and find a donor. They even advertised on a mobile billboard.
But it was an article of the Neighborhood News that caught the attention of Joel Morales.
A quick glance at the story and the picture of Raj and his dog Benji convinced Joel he wanted to help.
"It's not something that I ever thought about doing before — ever considered. Ever dreamed that was a thing," said Joel.
Thankfully Joel was a match, and on March 4, Raj got his kidney.
"It's a very big thing to ask from people, and I think it's very good and great that he did it. And that's why we thank him every time we meet," Raj said.
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Since the surgery, the two have bonded playing Fortnite — their families have bonded too.
"It's just crazy how quickly life changes and how much their family means to me and my family over the last month and a half," said Joel.