Colorado Woman Donates Kidney To Save Pennsylvania Man 35 Years After They Went To Prom Together
February 27, 2025
Today's good news story comes from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
A high school prom date turned into a life-saving connection decades later when Elena Hershey stepped up to help Dr. Shawn Moyer receive a much-needed kidney transplant.
ABC News
Moyer, now a chief quality officer at UPMC and a practicing family physician, was once a senior at Dallastown Area High School in need of a last-minute prom date. Hershey, then a junior, happily accepted the invite. Though they went their separate ways after high school, their connection resurfaced when Moyer found himself in urgent need of a kidney.
Having received two kidney transplants before—one in his teens and another 20 years later—Moyer faced another transplant requirement as his most recent kidney function declined. His wife, Alyssa, had previously donated a kidney in a paired exchange program, but she couldn't donate again.
Meanwhile, Hershey, now a teacher in Boulder, Colorado, had already decided to donate a kidney altruistically. When she learned through a mutual friend that Moyer needed one, she immediately reached out to help.
Although Hershey wasn’t a direct match, she participated in a paired exchange program—donating her kidney in summer 2024 to help another patient, which ensured Moyer would receive a compatible kidney in return. Her close friend Julie even traveled from Pennsylvania to support her during the surgery.
Last Friday, Moyer got the long-awaited call: a matching kidney was available.
“When I saw his text, I caught my breath and started to cry—happy tears,” Hershey said.
Now, Moyer looks forward to a healthier future, all thanks to Hershey’s generosity. Hershey, however, insists the process was easier than most people think.
“I started driving a couple of days later. It really was no problem at all,” she shared, encouraging others to consider organ donation.
Without a living donor, Moyer could have faced years on the transplant waitlist. Thanks to this incredible act of kindness, he’s getting a second chance at life—just as their high school connection came full circle in the most extraordinary way.
Watch the video below:
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Twin Telepathy? Identical Sisters Speak In Perfect Sync During Live News Interview
Heartbroken Child Writes 7-Page Letter After Giving Up Her Beloved Cat
This 28-Pound Rabbit Wears Hats, Drives A Tiny Car, And Comforts Strangers
Holly The Dog Celebrates Her Final Day As 'Cuddle Manager' At Children’s Hospital
Twin Telepathy? Identical Sisters Speak In Perfect Sync During Live News Interview
Teen Takes Great-Grandma To Prom After She Reveals She Never Got To Go
Panda Gets A Leafy Surprise And Absolutely Loses It In The Best Way
Supermarket Worker Leaves Everyone In Tears, Wins Golden Buzzer On BGT
Family Cookout Turns Wholesome When UPS Driver Gets Waved Down