Guilford County paramedic donates kidney to stranger
Original story published 2024-09-11 23:22:21
STORY SUMMARY
In Guilford County, senior paramedic Alexis Williams made a life-changing decision after encountering a post on the Great Social Experiment website. The post, from a young woman named Shimmery Johnson who had lost her baby due to premature birth and subsequently needed a kidney transplant, inspired Williams to become a living donor. Williams, who had undergone a total hysterectomy in 2022 and could no longer conceive, felt a strong calling to help Johnson. After completing necessary medical tests at East Carolina University, the transplant was successfully performed in September. Despite suffering a knee injury that delayed the surgery, Williams’s donation freed Johnson from dialysis and restored her ability to have children. Williams now passionately advocates for living donations, emphasizing the critical need for more donors.
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A Guilford County paramedic, Alexis Williams, made a life-saving choice by donating a kidney to a woman in need, following a profound personal realization. She came across a post on a website called The Great Social Experiment, where she read about Shimerry Johnson, a young woman who went into kidney failure while pregnant and tragically lost her baby boy, Amari, born at 30 weeks. Johnson’s story resonated deeply with Williams, who had undergone a total hysterectomy in 2022, ending her own ability to conceive. Motivated by a sense of purpose, Williams decided to become an organ donor.
Williams initiated the donation process by completing the necessary medical forms and tests at East Carolina University. After confirming she was a match, they scheduled the surgery for September. Unfortunately, an accident that resulted in a knee injury and a hairline fracture in her femur did not deter her commitment. Despite the delay, the surgery proceeded in the first week of September, with both Williams and Johnson arriving and undergoing the procedures together.
Post-surgery, Johnson no longer requires dialysis and now has the future possibility of having more children. This experience has turned Williams into a passionate advocate for organ donation, encouraging others to consider becoming living donors to combat the critical shortage. Those interested can find more details at transplantliving.org regarding requirements and recovery information.
