He Gave Her the Gift of Life And a Second Chance at Their Future Together

15 years ago, when he learned that his wife needed a transplant, Scott Bucci was eager to find out if he was a match.

Early on in their marriage, Scott’s wife Melissa became ill. As time passed, her illness progressed and began to require more and more medical interventions. Eventually, her illness began to impact her lungs and kidneys. She was in and out of the hospital, struggling with health concerns, and dealing with a worsening condition.

Then came the news from her doctors: she would need a kidney transplant. 

Scott was ready to volunteer to see if he was a match. His wife’s sister also wanted to be tested. It turned out that both Scott and his sister-in-law were good matches. However, because she was a medical student and would be required to miss a year of school in order to become an organ donor, Scott readily volunteered.

So in February of 2010, Scott gave his wife the gift of life. 

Afterward, Scott’s wife felt so much better. After so much time struggling with her health and encountering medical obstacles, she was thrilled by how much better she felt following the transplant. Scott, on the other hand took longer to heal which is not uncommon for the donor. Luckily, he recovered quickly, and except for a brief increase in his blood pressure, Scott is back to normal. 

Now, Scott’s wife has a dedicated team of doctors at VCU who continue to support her in her post-transplant journey. 

Since then, the couple have started skipping Valentine’s Day in favor of a new holiday all their own.

“I ended up giving her a kidney on February 16, 2010,” Scott said. “She likes to say we skip Valentine’s Day and celebrate ‘Kidney Day’ instead.”

Scott has been a longtime partner at Cantor Grana Bucker Bucci, a personal injury firm located in Richmond. After he donated a kidney to his wife, his co-workers at the law firm rallied around the couple and began partnering with Donate Live Virginia (DLVA) during National Donate Life Month in April.

Inspired by Scott’s selfless gift and the transformational impact it has had, the firm has started celebrating Blue and Green Day, where members of the public and the organ donation and transplantation community wear blue and green as a way to share the Donate Life message and promote the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

Scott’s firm also continues to share the importance of organ donation on social media, display DLVA signs in their office, and share Scott’s story and the importance of organ donation with clients through their newsletters. 

As for Scott, even 15 years later, he is as resolute as he was on the day when he first learned that his wife needed a kidney transplant. 

“It was an easy decision then,” Scott said, “and I’d make the same choice again in a heartbeat.”

Since the transplant, Scott and Melissa were able to start a family, and now live in Midlothian with their 2 sets of twins and 2 bulldogs.

You can learn more about living donation here. 

Written by Eric Steigleder for Donate Life Virginia