TThe Christmas holidays often bring out the best in humanity and provide an opportunity to show generosity in a tangible way to those who mean the most to us through the exchange of gifts.
But not all gifts are equal.
There are a few that you simply can’t find by scrolling through Amazon or strolling the aisles of your local mall; gifts so sacrificial that they leave the recipient awestruck and speechless.
Will Bratton can certainly attest to this sentiment. The Nashville, Tennessee native received the priceless treasure of hope in early December through the donation of the gift of life by his close friend and colleague Ryan Terry.
A week after Terry capped his stellar amateur season by being named the Tennessee Golf Association’s Men’s Player of the Year and Mid-Amateur of the Year, the 33-year-old former Lipscomb University star chose to donate a kidney to Bratton. The couple first met when they started their careers at a Nashville asset management company a decade ago.
“I have known about Will’s kidney condition for a long time. The more I saw the reality of how difficult life was for him, that he is in a similar situation to me and wants to be active with his two children, I just felt like I had to do something.” –Ryan Terry
Bratton, 41, has battled polycystic kidney disease for the past two decades, knowing a transplant was likely at some point after watching his father suffer a similar fate. However, the aggressive nature of Bratton’s symptoms reduced the likelihood that he would need a new kidney or else undergo dialysis, a sobering reality for the married father of two young daughters.
That’s when Terry decided to step forward to see if he could serve as a donor. Faced with the long mathematical expectation that he would be a match, the extensive testing revealed that Bratton was a candidate to receive one of his friend’s organs.
“It was just meant to be,” Terry said. “I have known about Will’s kidney disease for a long time. The more I saw the reality of how difficult life was for him, that he is in a similar situation to me in terms of wanting to be active with his two children, I just felt like I had to do something.
“All I had to do is take a few tests, which weren’t difficult, and then recover for a few weeks. I never really felt like it was a super big ask on my part. It’s not like it took years off my life or put me in a significantly worse situation health-wise. God gave us two kidneys, and we really only need one to live.”
Terry’s actions have not only given Bratton a lifeline so he can enjoy a normal life, but have also transformed his faith and priorities in life.
“I knew at some point this was always going to be a part of my story,” Bratton said. “But you start to doubt that and question it, and I had a hard time early on accepting or really thinking that I deserve something like this. It’s another reminder of God’s great design that we are not meant to do this life alone, but we are meant to do it with others.”
Bratton worked as a fundraiser at First Tee at the PGA Tour headquarters in Florida for nine years before meeting Terry upon arriving in Nashville in 2016. Although Bratton considers himself more of a social golfer, he hopes that wearing one of Terry’s kidneys will create a genetic infusion of improvement to his game.
“My favorite joke about why I accepted Ryan as my donor is that this might add at least 50 feet to my rides,” Bratton said.
Receiving accolades from the TGA capped off a remarkable year for Terry, which saw him win both the Mexico Mid-Amateur and the Birmingham National Invitational Tournament. He also finished second at the Trans-Mississippi Mid-Amateur, had top 10s at the Canadian Mid-Amateur and European Mid-Amateur, in addition to qualifying for both the US Amateur and British Amateur.
The timing for the procedure should not impact Terry’s 2026 golf plans.
“They don’t want me to lift anything heavy for at least four weeks, and after six weeks I should be completely off,” Terry said. “I’ll throw in a few putts and chippings in the meantime, so the short game stays sharp.”
Bratton has already enjoyed dramatic improvements in his energy levels and quality of life just weeks after the procedure. Equally important is the way in which this odyssey has shifted its focus to the future.
“I am overwhelmed by the love of God manifested through Ryan’s sacrifice,” Bratton said. “There is no way to repay a gift like this, and yet his attitude reflects Christ so clearly – freely given, without expectation, rooted in love. His willingness to give up something of himself so that I might live deeply strengthened my faith.
“This trip has deepened my understanding of friendship as a sacred calling and generosity as an act of worship. I am overjoyed by God’s goodness and moved to live my life forward with an immensely generous heart.”
The impact of Terry’s selfless act has led to a recalibrated sense of what is truly important in his life, beyond a collection of trophies.
“Friendship and community are what God put us on this earth for,” Terry said. “We don’t know whose path we will cross or who God will use in our lives to make a difference, but it is important to just keep an open mind and be aware of those opportunities. My donation was a perfect opportunity to model what Christ has done for us: giving a gift that is not needed and cannot be repaid. It can only be accepted without any expectation of repayment.”
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