AMERICUS — With the use of Skype, an Americus mother, Racheal Smith, proudly waves at her son Daniel Cook from her computer. A year ago Cook gave the gift of life to the love of his life.

It started 11 years ago just after 38-year-old Daniel was getting over a divorce, and deciding to go on with life.

“I was on active duty spending my last two years in the Marine Corps working in the security forces in Bahrain,” he said. “I wasn’t looking for anyone. But, there were some girls telling me, I’ have someone you should meet.’ I told them I am not looking; I am good. I was enjoying life.”

Then, Philippine Independence Day came on June 10, 1999. The bands were playing and while Daniel made his way through the festive environment, he came upon a beautiful waitress. Little did he know he would find out this was the girl all his girlfriends had been telling him he needed to meet.

“She was shy. She did not want anything to do with me,” he said, explaining he went back to talk to her a few days later.

“There was a big connection starting. Something special about her was the way she felt about family. She wanted a better life for her family. She worked and sent her money home for her family. I thought that was very honorable,” he said.

After three weeks of spending time with Elena, Daniel knew he had fallen in love. However, he was at the point in his life where he was about to end his tour of duty. He had to make some big decisions fast. He was in conflict with himself, asking himself “should I ask her to marry me, take her back to the states and take her away from her family — and where would he be employed next?”

“I was scared; I didn’t know how to tell her. I knew I had to take it to the next level. I wasn’t sure how she would feel about being taken away from her family. I eventually stayed away from her for three weeks,” he explained.

When Daniel finally knew he had to make a commitment, he sat Elena down and ask her to marry him.

“She was upset because I had not called. I explained everything to her. And I asked her to marry me on Sept. 16, 2000. We went to the Philippines to get married,” he said, explaining he applied for a civilian job in the military dealing with morale, welfare and recreation.

The couple lived in Bahrain for four years and then moved to Qatar, city of Doha. They were married for eight years. During a  visit home to see Daniel’s parents in the United States, Elena became very sick and was taken to a doctor for tests. They were on their way to a family reunion in Panama City Beach, Fla., when they received a phone call.

“It was the doctor. He told us to turn around and get her back to his  office immediately. He said both her kidneys were failing. She was put on a catheter immediately and started dialysis,” Daniel said.

Elena was put on dialysis on Aug. 21, 2008, and waited three years for a kidney transplant.

“Many of her friends and relatives wanted to donate a kidney. However, no match was found,” said Daniel. He knew that he and Elena were the same blood type and wondered if he would be a match.

“Elena would not let me donate my kidney. She didn’t want to risk my life to save her,” he said.

Daniel waited patiently for years, hoping for a transplant while Elena stayed in the states with his father in Pensacola, Fla., because the facilities overseas were inadequate.

“I was coming home for vacation and I made an appointment with the doctor to take a test to see if I would be a good match. I sat Elena down and asked her, ‘Who, outside of your mother, who else loves you more?”

He eventually persuaded her to let him find out if he could be a donor.

Daniel took off three months from his job, and the transplant was scheduled for July 16, 2010, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“They said it was a 5 percent chance our kidneys would match. It’s amazing; it was a perfect match. It was the easiest decision to make. The doctor said ‘I promise this is the fastest working kidney I have every seen during all of my transplants,’ ” he said describing after the operation.

“It took automatically to her body. When I woke up after surgery, I found out a little bit of how painful it was for her during the last three years. After the transplant she was jumping off the walls. She had energy she had not had in years,” he said.

It’s been a year now, the couple celebrated the anniversary on July 16, and Elena has been released by her doctor to return home to her husband soon.

“We are waiting on the paperwork,” said Daniel.

Elena was contacted by phone and she commented on her kidney transplant from her husband.  

“I am doing good. It is weird. I used to it already. I have normal body. I have energy. I first had to accept him helping me with my family. I have no choice he already made appointment. He makes me happy. My husband is always with me in my body. I owe him a lot. I go to church. I give Thanksgiving mass. I grateful both healthy and nothing to worry and no complications. He coming home to celebrate together,” she said.

Daniel said when he returns to the states he hopes Elena will return home with him.

“It’s amazing; we were a perfect match. We fit so perfect. I could not have met anyone any better in a thousand years. I am so proud of her. She is a fighter.”