Do It For Amy

Let me tell you a little something about FaceBook - it is a complete and utter time suck.  It keeps me up at night when I should be sleeping.  It causes me to spend more time on the computer and/or my iPhone than is necessary.  But it is also amazing, in that it allows me to connect with people with whom I've lost touch over the years.  It gives me a tiny glimpse into their lives and allows me to see the person that they have become.  In some instances, that opportunity is truly a gift.
Amy Capistran was one year behind me in high school - we had classes together, some of the same teachers, played sports together and ran in the same circle of friends.  After I graduated, we lost touch, but through the power of FaceBook, we reconnected about a year ago.  I learned some interesting things about Amy - after college, she served in Iraq as a member of the US Army; she's a Democrat; she works for the National Kidney Foundation; and one of her former co-workers at the NKF is the next door neighbor of my college roommate (small world!). 
But two weeks ago, I learned something truly remarkable.  Amy has decided to donate her left kidney to save the life of a little boy that she barely knows.  Why?  Because three years ago, her brother Chris (also a high school friend and fellow track team member) received a liver transplant, which saved his life (I also learned about Chris' story through our FaceBook connection).  Chris went to the emergency room complaining of abdominal pain and learned that not only did he have appendicitis, but also a rare liver cancer - his only chance of survival was a liver transplant, which he received a few months later.  Chris' experience, coupled with Amy's work at the NKF, led Amy to make the decision to be tested for potential organ donation.  She was matched with 2 1/2 year old Noah and in a few weeks, she will become a living donor.
I'm not quite sure why Amy's story has impacted me so much, but I think about her all the time now.  As a mother, I am incredibly grateful for her selfless act - saving the life of a child she wouldn't otherwise know.  As a person, I am in awe of her generosity - deep down inside, I don't know if I could donate an organ for a stranger.  And as her friend, I am proud of the person that she has grown to be - kind, generous, loving, completely and utterly amazing.  Please consider donating - even $5 - to Amy's NKF Team.