ALVIN, Texas — When Randy Smith shared on Facebook that he needed a kidney donor, a friend didn't hesitate to volunteer.
Josh Windham and Randy's sons, Noah and Tyson, are teammates at Alvin ISD's Iowa Colony High School. Season after season, the two Alvin dads have sat on the bleachers at games.
But at home, Randy was struggling with Crohn's disease and kidney failure.
"I was exhausted all the time, I had to take naps," he said. "I said, 'I wanted to keep this private, but it can't hurt to try.'"
After spending four years waiting on the kidney transplant list, he shared a post on Facebook asking for help.
"Not asking for pity, but if anyone happens to know anyone who is B+ (blood type), we'd love to talk to you about it," he said.
Almost immediately, Randy said he got a text from a fellow football dad.
"There was no second-guessing at all," Josh said.
Testing confirmed that he was a match.
"I couldn't imagine watching Noah and Tyson play football together on Friday nights knowing I could have tried and I didn't," Josh said.
In August, he took time off from his job as a Houston police officer to donate a kidney to Randy. As soon as the doctor signed off, both were right back on the bleachers watching their sons play football.
"I am just grateful. There's nothing else to say. I'm eternally grateful for me and my family," Randy said.