This story of two complete strangers from Missouri demonstrates what it means to embrace compassion, spread kindness, and lead by example.

Maria Boyle had been on the kidney transplant list for 2 years when she was featured on the local news. The segment focused on experience of waiting for an organ transplant, and featured a sticker Maria kept on her car, which said "Kidney needed! Share your spare."

(Did you know that almost all people are born with two kidneys, but can survive with just one?!)

Jeremy Brown, a husband and father of three, saw that segment. And he was immediately moved to take action to help Maria. He called her up and left her a voicemail, offering to donate his spare kidney for her.

Today, Maria still has that voicemail saved on her phone. But Maria and Jeremy's story didn't go exactly as either of them had planned. You see, a few weeks before their scheduled transplant surgery, Maria got a call from a local hospital, telling her to come in right away to receive a kidney from someone who had sadly just passed away.

"If you're on the list, you don't give up a kidney. You just can't," Maria said recently of her reaction to that phone call. She spoke with Jeremy soon after, and he told her "You've gotta do this."

Maria's transplant surgery was a success.

And so was Jeremy's, a few months later, when he was matched with a new person in need of his healthy kidney!
Of his decision to donate his organ despite the initial plan changing, Jeremy said: "I'm a firm believer that when you tell someone you're going to do something, that you do it."

Video via Fox 2 St. Louis. If this story put a smile on your face, pop over to our Facebook page for more—or subscribe to our Only Good News Newsletter!