Stranger answers Maryland woman’s life-saving Facebook plea for a kidney transplant

Stephanie Chabalko is a veterinarian from Arnold, Maryland, who was looking down a potentially dark tunnel as she waited for a life-saving organ transplant.  Stephanie needed a kidney donation; and without one she wouldn’t be alive much longer. Desperate, she took matters into her own hands and sent out a personal plea to her family and friends on Facebook where she posted an open letter asking for their help.

Stephanie wrote that she was born with a genetic condition called polycystic disease.  “Dear Friends and Family, my kidneys are failing and I’m in need a kidney transplant.”  Without that transplant she wouldn’t be alive much longer. She asked her friends and family to share her plight across social media.

WBAL-TV in Baltimore reported on Stephanie’s story and wrote that her Facebook post was shared thousands of times and all across the globe.  And it was a woman from Colorado who responded to Stephanie to say she was willing to donate one of her kidneys to her. Erinn Miles didn’t know Stephanie; but she wanted to be the one to save her.

“I reached out to her on Facebook and I just sent her a message and said, ‘Hey, I know this is weird,'” Miles said.  “She said, ‘Hi Stephanie. My name is Erinn. I am a perfect match. I plan to give you one of my kidneys.”

Chabalko said, “I was so excited. I just couldn’t believe a stranger, who doesn’t even know me, would donate.” ~ WBAL-TV

Miles was a brand new mother with a three-month-old baby girl at home and wanted to wait until she was done breast feeding before going through with the operation that would save Stephanie’s life.  But Stephanie’s doctor said that his patient couldn’t wait that long. Without an immediate transplant, Stephanie would die. Hearing that, Miles said she was all in and ready to proceed.

Stephanie set up a fundraiser on You Caring to help pay for that very expensive transplant.  Every share of that fundraiser to Facebook, can raise $37 to Stephanie’s goal of $18,000.  On You Caring, Stephanie wrote:

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been waiting for a kidney transplant, and a donor has come through!!!

I feel very blessed, and often cry with joy.   I am so thankful to my donor, for giving me the gift of life and to my wonderful friends and family that have shown me overwhelming love and kindness. This is so exciting, and equally scary, because there is so much unknown but also a chance to live my life fully again. We are in the final stages of planning for the kidney transplant surgery. We hope to have a date set in October.  This is really happening !!!

A special thanks to those who donated to support my kidney donor’s travel and lodging expenses. I have learned a lot about this process, and on the fly. To receive a kidney, I cannot directly give money to my donor (it’s illegal), so her travel fund has helped tremendously, to allow her to make travel plans without having to call me for payment.

It may seem a little strange to have two fundraising pages, but as an organ transplant recipient, I am responsible for paying all medical bills for both my donor and myself. While the surgery expenses are significant, the anti-rejection medications are equally expensive and will continue long-term.

I have continued to work as much as I can throughout this process of kidney failure. As a Veterinarian, I find the most fulfillment and peace through my work, easing suffering and healing the innocent creatures that show us all unconditional love.

I dream of the time I will hike in the mountains, travel, and most of all find ways to share this story of compassion, love and human connection.

My cousin Rachel said it best “ There are many private tragedies that families shoulder, in addition to public catastrophes like the hurricanes and floods and wild fires happening here and around the world, and coming together to support each other is what keeps us all human.”

Erinn also set up her own Gofundme page to help defray her travel costs from Colorado to Maryland. You can read Erinn’s story there.

In October, Erinn made the trip to Maryland. She and Stephanie met at the University of Maryland Transplant Center just one day prior to Stephanie’s life-saving operation.  Stephanie said, “I thanked her, there in the bed for saving my life.” The transplant operation went smoothly and was a life-saving success.

Erinn has since returned to Colorado.  She told WBAL, “I am so grateful that I got this opportunity to be part of Stephanie’s life, and to be part of answered prayers and it’s just such a cool thing.”

Stephanie credits the power of social media for bringing her and Erinn together. Regarding Erinn, Stephanie said, “She showed me that there are people out there that have true goodness in their heart that just want to help someone.”

Written by:  Ace News Today Staff