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Apr 18, 2009 11:15 pm US/Central
Star Wars Enthusiast Donates Kidney To Fellow Fan
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A "Star Wars" fan is getting a little help in the battle for his life, as a fellow fan and Long Island resident answered the call to become a real-life hero, reports CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City.
It looked like an attack from the dark side, but for Jeff Romanoff, it was a stormtrooper that saved his life.
"Words could never describe what he's given me," Romanoff says.
Jeff is part of a "Star Wars" fan club based in Philadelphia that poses as characters from the films for charity.
He met Eric Seemann, a fellow Imperialite from Long Island, at a convention.
"I didn't even know he was sick," Eric says.
Seeman later learned that Jeff was suffering from cancer and needed a kidney transplant to survive.
Quick as a Millennium Falcon, Eric got tested – and learned he was a perfect match.
Ten years ago, Eric's brother donated his kidney to a family member, and two years ago, his mother was diagnosed with leukemia.
That was all the motivation he needed to donate his own kidney for a friend.
"I've seen things from both sides of the fence," Eric says. "I know what it's like to be waiting and hoping there will be a match, and somebody you care about is taken care of and cured."
"Words could never describe the true selflessness that Eric has shown towards me and my family," Jeff says. "What can you say to a person who's giving you a second shot at life?"
"He just kept expressing his thanks for what I was doing, and [that] he could never repay me," Eric said. "I basically told him there's no thanks needed.
"It's just like one of those commercials – pass it along, do a good thing," Seemann said.
Surgeons expect both Jeff and Eric to fully recover. Eric says that, as soon as he does recover, he'll jump right back into his charity work with the 501 Legion.
Jeff and Eric underwent the life-saving surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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