Ann had known about Ed’s health issues since her sons attended middle school with his son years earlier. But it wasn’t until the day before Thanksgiving 2015, after reading a Facebook post by Ed’s daughter Melissa, that a seed was planted in Ann’s heart. After many conversations with her husband and lots of prayer, she decided to offer Ed her kidney and submitted her name to be tested.

As a prospective donor, Ann went through a thorough medical testing process over the following few months and was approved to be a donor in February of 2017. Matching surgical suites were reserved for her and Ed at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. A few short days after the surgery, Ed went home with Ann’s kidney.

Ann said, “Donating a kidney is by far one of the best opportunities I’ve ever been given in this life. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I recovered quickly and now 18 months later, except for the small fading scars, you would not even know I donated my kidney.”

Ann and her husband thought the hardest part of the donation process might be telling their kids, but as it turned out, they had no reason to be anxious. All three of them were wonderfully supportive. By leaning on her faith, along with the love and support from her family and friends, Ann was carried through the amazing journey of kidney donation.