LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) — When you tell someone you care about you would do anything for them, how far does that promise go?
Two basketball coaches for Christ the King have been best friends for more than 20 years and their story of friendship is just as strong off the court as it is on.
"We're more like brothers than anything else so it’s like family," Coach Matt Miskin said.
Miskin and Drew Siebenmorgen are the ultimate coaching team, coaching eighth- and sixth-grade boys at Christ the King, the same school they both attended.
“I have to calm him down a lot of the time,” Miskin said about coaching with Siebenmorgen.
Their story goes back much further than coaching. It’s as far back as second grade, playing sports together, rooming together in college, and being in each other’s weddings.
“We’ve been together really our entire lives and its crazy it worked out this way," Miskin said.
While they’ve spent years as friends, neither of them knew their friendship would take this next step. Seven months ago, Miskin found out he needed a kidney. He knew it would happen one day, but didn’t think it would be so soon.
"I was born prematurely so my kidneys never fully developed," said Miskin. “It just happened a whole lot faster than everyone thought." The next step is often waiting on a transplant list. "Years. They said it could take up to three or four years," said Miskin. Luckily, he has a big family, five siblings and about 30 aunts and uncles.
"We had a couple match actually, but for medical reasons, they were eliminated," Miskin said.
That meant he had to keep looking.
"Without a doubt, I just said, ‘get me in touch with your coordinator.’ Because that was after I asked what his blood type was. I was the same type," Siebenmorgen said. Drew was healthy, he was a match, and most importantly, he was willing. "I’ve got two healthy ones, I only need one so we're good to go after that," Siebenmorgen said. “Simple phone call, ‘you’re getting my kidney, man.'"
“That’s just what our friendship is. If I need something, I knew he would be there for me and I would be there for him," Miskin said.
One week prior to surgery day, their teams thanking them for all they do by praying for them and signing basketballs for them. “Roles reversed, I know he would be standing there next to me, without a doubt," Siebenmorgen said.
The transplant happened Wednesday at UAMS. Family members gave us an update saying they’re both out of surgery and doing well.