Shawn Moyer, who has lived with kidney disease since he was 16, is preparing for his third kidney transplant, made possible through an extraordinary chain of generosity. His first transplant came from the paired kidney exchange program, where his wife Alyssa donated her kidney to a stranger so Shawn could receive one in return. Now, after 20 months on dialysis, he needed another transplant—but this time, Alyssa had no more kidneys to give.
Enter Elena Hershey, now living in Boulder, Colorado. Elena heard about Shawn’s need for a kidney through a childhood connection—her best friend Julie is married to Shawn’s best friend Kyle. What makes the story even more remarkable is that Elena and Shawn actually went to prom together 35 years ago.
Though Elena wasn’t a direct match for Shawn, she had already planned to donate her kidney altruistically. Instead, she donated through the paired kidney exchange program, helping a stranger while ensuring Shawn would receive a kidney from another donor. Last Friday, Shawn got the long-awaited call—a perfect match had been found, and his new kidney was on its way. His transplant surgery is set for Thursday.
Elena, now fully recovered, says the decision to donate was an easy one. “A few weeks of rest and a few days of discomfort to extend or save someone’s life—it’s a no-brainer,” she said. Shawn, grateful for her kindness and the entire donation system, hopes his story will inspire others to consider organ donation.
