Central Texas Woman Receivesโค Life-Saving Kidney Transplant After Facebook Post Connects Donor family & Recipient
WACO, TX – Aโ Central โขTexas woman is โขrecovering after receiving a kidney transplant thanks to a remarkable connection โฃmade through a local Facebook post.The story highlights a family’s determination to honor their โคdaughter’s wish and a recipient’sโข urgent need for a life-saving organ.
for over a year,โข Sarahโค Wallace endured the challenges of kidney โฃfailure and regular dialysisโข treatments. Herโค fortunes changed dramatically in theโ early morning hours of October 14th,when she saw a post in local Facebookโฃ groups. The post, shared by Judy Kruse, was a direct appeal โฃto find a recipient for her daughter, Judy Lewis-Matthews’s, organ.
Lewis-Matthews had bravely battled kidneyโข disease and ultimately passed away after โขbeing on the transplant list and undergoing dialysis. “Mom, I don’t want anyone to ever face that again,” Kruse recalled her daughter saying. Driven by Judy’s wish โto help others, the โfamily sought to direct her donated kidney to a local recipient. However, they encountered obstacles due to HIPAA regulations.
“We asked the transplant team ifโ we could choose a hospital for it โขto โฃgo to. they said they couldn’t due to HIPAA violations. And so I went on Facebook and advertised herโฃ organ,” Kruse explained.
The post โฃquickly reached Wallace, who wasโ preparing for a dialysis appointment at 3:53 AM. “I was getting readyโค for dialysis on the 14th of Octoberโฆand I saw a Facebook post,” Wallace said.
Within hours, Wallace received the news she had been waiting for: a transplant was available, and it was specifically for her. “They said, โข’I’m โคsure you know, butโ we have a transplant โขfor you.’ And I justโค started crying,” Wallace recounted.
The surgery was a success, with Wallace’sโค body accepting Judy’s โkidney. “I lost weight. I’m happy. Noโฃ more dialysis,”โค she shared.
The story culminated in a deeply moving meeting at Judy Lewis-Matthews’s party of life, where Wallace โand the lewis-Matthews family connected forโ the first time. “This is my forever family,”โ Wallace declared, expressing the profound bond forged through tragedy and hope.
Lewis-Matthews’s mother expressed her certainty that Judy would be thrilled toโ know her kidney had given Wallaceโข a new lease on life. “Judy would’ve been thrilled. I know that Judy’s been part of eightโ different lives, and weโ are just grateful that she โcan, out of a tragedy that we have suffered, that sheโฃ can share with other people.”
Wallace now enjoys mornings free from dialysis appointments, waking up each day with a functioning kidney and the knowledge that she is living out a young woman’s final,โฃ selfless wish.
Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.