Since a donated kidney failed two years ago, Steve Whitehead has spent 12 hours a week on a home-dialysis machine that cleanses his blood. He has to follow a restrictive diet and spends most of his time exhausted from the medical procedures that keep him alive.

But today he is thankful for an opportunity that few people in his situation receive. His father, Sandy, 53, was found to be a match and has offered to donate a kidney to his son.

&#8220With family members the chance of success is great,” said Steve, 35. &#8220There’s a chance of not having to do dialysis any more.”

The father and son, both of Vicksburg, are scheduled to undergo the procedure Tuesday at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center.

Sandy said he is not scared about having his kidney removed, but grateful for the opportunity.

&#8220It feels good that I can do this for him,” Sandy said. &#8220I’m concerned, but I’m not scared.”

According to information from the National Kidney Foundation, there were 63,092 people across the country waiting for a kidney transplant in August and during all of last year, 16,004 transplants were performed. Thousands of people are added to the transplant waiting list every month and not nearly all get the help they need. In 2004, 3,886 kidney patients died while waiting for a donor.

But Steve will only have to wait five more days.

There are two advantages to having a family member donate a kidney to a patient, said Dr. Michael Davis, a nephrologist at River Region Medical Center. He said there is a higher rate of success with an organ from a family member.

&#8220The greatest advantage is you get the transplant,” Davis said. Donor-matched organs often don’t move patient-to-patient as family-to-family transfers.

Steve’s wife of 10 years, Tracie, said she is looking forward to the possibility that Steve might be able to return to a normal life.

&#8220I’m excited,” said Tracie.

Tracie helps Steve go through the dialysis process three times a week. After an hour of setting up the equipment, Tracie helps Steve put two needles in his right arm. One draws his blood to be cleaned, normally a function of a healthy set of kidneys, while the other needle returns the cleaned blood back into his body. The process takes four hours with an hour of clean up, afterward. Infection could be disastrous, so all precautions are taken.

&#8220It takes a long time,” Tracie said. &#8220It would be so nice not to have to do it. You’re so confined. You can’t go anywhere.”

Steve, who works for R&C Auto Sales, has continued to work during the last few years of dialysis treatment. He said he looks forward to not having to come home from work and get his treatment.

To be a donor, a person must be in good health, have normal kidney function and be a compatible blood type.

Sandy had to lose 35 pounds to be at the right weight for the procedure.

&#8220We started about three months ago” with the testing, Sandy said. &#8220We’ve been twice to Jackson and then to Birmingham.”

Sandy was even required to make a visit to his dentist before being allowed to go through with the surgery.

&#8220They check everything,” said Sandy, who works for Steven’s Service Center.

He also said he had to get flu and pneumonia shots and was instructed by doctors not to shake hands with anyone until after the surgery.

Having his tonsils removed was the only major procedure Sandy has undergone.

&#8220This will be my first trip,” said Sandy, who will be undergoing a laparoscopic procedure that does not involve cutting for removal of his left kidney.

While Sandy is unsure of how the procedure will go, Steve is a veteran.

&#8220I started dealing with this when I was 27,” Steve said.

His problems started in 1997 when Steve said he was diagnosed with a throat infection (strep) that doctors told him injured his kidneys. In August 1998, he got a call that a kidney was available. A person who was enrolled as an organ donor had died.

&#8220She said we have a kidney in Florida,” Steve said. &#8220They told me to get to Jackson in 30 minutes.”

While the first transplanted kidney lasted five years, Steve said his father’s kidney could last more than 20 years.

&#8220Maybe this one will work out for you,” Sandy said to his son.

The father and son plan to spend the day together.

&#8220We’re going to camp out,” Sandy said. &#8220I’ll spend some time with my son.”

And even though its against his diet, Steve said he may have to sneak a bite of his favorite food today.

&#8220I do plan on eating a big piece of chocolate pie, which I’m not supposed to eat,” he said.