WHTM-TV reports that in 1990 Shawn Moyer's girlfriend dumped him for a better offer a few weeks before his senior prom in York PA. Junior Elena Hershey, was available so he asked her to be his date. They were acquaintances but the night is remembered as a great event. “He needed a backup, and I was happy to be there for him” But college was just around the corner and Shawn never pursued romance as he knew he would be leaving soon.
Elena is now a teacher in Boulder Colorado, who is still friends with some of her former classmates in PA. One of those friends is married to one of Shawn's best friends. She relayed the town gossip that Shawn needed a kidney.
Shawn is a Doctor now in their hometown who has had kidney troubles for for about 25 years. 20 years ago he needed a kidney and his wife, who wasn't a match donated hers to get Shawn bumped up on the list. Well that kidney is now failing.
Elena asked if she could do the same thing? She reconnected with Shawn and they spoke with the Kidney foundation who set the whole thing up. Elena donated a kidney the next week to someone she matched with. Shawn was bumped up the list to receive his match and a few months later in PA he got his. .
Elena says Shawn needed a a backup again and I was thrilled to help.
describes the surgery as a simple decision, and she experienced minimal discomfort and was able to return to her daily activities quickly. She hopes her story will encourage others to consider living kidney donation, stressing its life-changing impact with relatively little sacrifice. Moyer expressed deep gratitude for her selfless act, calling it a remarkable gesture that will likely sustain him into his 70s.