The son of a Pennsylvania man donated a kidney to his father in order to save him from the effects of Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage.

Nick D. had been expecting his kidneys to fail at some point. In fact, his kidneys have been losing function for over a decade due to serious Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage.

“I was having trouble with gout and I took medicine and had a reaction,” said Nick. “My organs shut down and I was kind of burning up from the inside. After that, when I recovered, my kidneys didn’t come back the whole way.”

Despite basically being able to lead a normal life, because he lived with Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage, Nick always knew he would eventually need a kidney transplant once his failed.

Eric D. donated a kidney to his 67-year-old father in June. Nick’s other children were tested to see if their kidneys were compatible, but only Eric was determined to be a viable donor.

Eric is still recovering from the surgery weeks later, but he says he doesn’t regret the decision to help his father recover from his Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Eric said.

Eric and Nick went through simultaneous surgery to complete the kidney transplant on June 16. They had recovered enough to come home the next day—Father’s Day.

Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult for patients waiting in the U.S. for kidney transplants to get the donations they need. There are currently more than 100,000 patients in the U.S. awaiting kidney transplants.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a serious skin and mucous membrane condition that causes peeling and blistering across potentially large patches of skin. SJS rashes often lead to pain, eye problems, secondary skin infection, and Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage.

A more severe form of SJS is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, or TEN. When SJS progresses to cover more than 30 percent of a patient’s skin, it is reclassified as TEN, which is a more dangerous condition with a higher fatality rate.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome has been linked as an allergic reaction with a variety of drugs.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuits

A growing number of injured patients and their families are filing SJS lawsuits against drug manufacturers, claiming that various drugs have caused SJS and Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage. These lawsuits claim that manufacturers failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the risk of SJS linked with their drugs.

If you or someone you love has suffered from Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage or other complications after using a medication, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of Stevens Johnson Syndrome organ damage, but it can help to at least compensate for financial expenses incurred by medical bills and lost wages.