Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley is taking time off work earlier than expected in order to donate an organ to a Canadian.

Dudley had been planning to leave work for about three weeks late this summer to go under the knife. But the man who needs the kidney isn’t doing well and doctors moved the surgery ahead to May 14.

Dudley has gone through a battery of tests since deciding to donate his kidney to a stranger about a year ago. He will be traveling to Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia Thursday to undergo last-minute exams.

“I may get the chance to finally meet him,” Dudley said, referring to recipient Philip Rosario, a 37-year-old small business owner. “I’m really excited.”

Dudley said he had long considered becoming a kidney donor. His family has a history of polycystic kidney disease; the genetic disorder claimed both of his grandmothers and an aunt, and afflicted an uncle as well. Fortunately, Dudley is free from the disease.

Dudley was on a trip visiting chapters of the Rotary Club when he heard Rosario’s wife, Keesha, tell members that her husband is dying from polycystic kidney disease and needs a kidney donation. On the spot, Dudley decided to give one of his kidneys to the man.

Dudley said the operation should take about three hours and, if all goes well, he should be released from the hospital May 18.

“I should be out of commission for probably three weeks,” he said.

Dudley will miss one council meeting while he’s lying in bed. He plans to attend a May 30 workshop about parliamentary procedure.

“They can wheel me in and make sure I’m highly medicated,” he said.

Dudley said he should be back in action, gavel in hand, for the June 5 council meeting and a June 7 special meeting to discuss councilmembers’ proposals to ban the wearing of hats in council chambers and to change the public input time on the agenda.

“It should be a packed house,” he said.