After years of dialysis, Jillene Schnitzer used Facebook as her final hope to find a kidney donor.
In December 2014, the 45-year-old shared a photo of herself and her two sons, while holding up a sign that read “I need a kidney.” She also included a lengthy note where she explained how much she had been missing out on her children’s lives because of her medical issues.
“When we did the Facebook page, I really didn’t think it was going to work,” Schnitzer says in the video for Kleenex below. “At that point I was losing hope.”
But, about a week later, she received a message from a woman named Mallory Kenney. Like others before her who have bravely given organs to strangers, Kenney offered to be a donor.
“I didn’t know her but I’ve got four kids and I couldn’t imagine my kids having to live without a parent and so I immediately messaged her,” Mallory says while fighting back tears. “I said, ‘What do I need to do to donate?’”
Months later, Schnitzer received her new kidney and her appreciation is understood as she emotionally thanks Kenney at the 1:42 mark.
The experience has also taught her a big life lesson: “You’re going to have storms in your life but what this experience has taught me is the sun will come out again."
Watch the emotional clip below and please SHARE if this incredible story!
Jillene Schnitzer shared this plea on Facebook on Dec. 2, 2014 and it saved her life.
Watch the women explain their positions in the emotional video below.
