Prom Date Saves Life 35 Years Later With Kidney Donation

Quick Smiles:

• A woman from Colorado donates a kidney to her former prom date, 35 years after their dance.
• A medical center’s paired exchange program plays a vital role in this life-saving act.
• Despite the surgery, the donor quickly returns to her active lifestyle, inspiring many with her generosity.

In a story that spans decades, Elena Hershey and Shawn Moyer’s lives intersected again in the most unexpected way. Thirty-five years ago, they attended the Dallastown Area High School senior prom together. Moyer, who was in need of a last-minute prom date, invited Hershey, a junior at the time. Little did they know that this prom night would lay the foundation for a future act of generosity.

Fast forward to the present day, and Moyer found himself in dire need of a kidney transplant. Having already undergone two transplants in his life, he was once again on dialysis. Enter a medical center’s innovative “paired exchange program.” This program allows a donor’s kidney to be matched with another recipient, ensuring that Moyer would move up the waiting list.

Hershey, a committed health enthusiast, was considering a kidney donation when she learned of Moyer’s situation through mutual friends. “A few weeks of having to rest and a few days of discomfort to extend someone’s life or save someone’s life?” Hershey said. “It really is kind of a no-brainer.”

Though they couldn’t directly share organs, the paired exchange program facilitated the process. Once a donor was found for Moyer, his first instinct was to reach out to Hershey.

“He texted me [the news], and I saw it, and I caught my breath a little bit, and I started to cry a little bit,” Hershey shared. Her decision to donate did not significantly disrupt her life; she was back to her usual activities, including driving and stationary biking, within a month.

This remarkable story of kindness and connection reminds us of the enduring bonds people can share, even after decades apart.

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