3-Day walkers ROCK!

Read Courtney's thoughts throughout the process of donating a kidney.

You've heard about my freaking awesome sister, Courtney, before. We've walked well over 120 miles together training for and participating in the DFW 3-day for the Cure. She's pretty much the coolest person ever.

Some of you know Abbie, fellow walker and all around rockstar. Abbie and I "met" on twitter and found that we had several things in common. When Abbie posted on her blog that her friend Bobbette needed a kidney, I paid attention. I am a firm believer in organ donation and I matched Bobbette's blood type. Courtney did too, so I sent her the link. We both went to get tested.

Courtney didn't procrastinate as long as I did, and made it to the top of the list. She went to Nashville to be tested further. She did research, had more tests, and spent more time in the hospital in Nashville and Louisiana than any healthy 25 year old should. In April Courtney was selected as a match and was given the option to donate her kidney to Bobbette.

She and I talked about it extensively. She talked it over with the important people in her life and ultimately made the decision to donate. The surgery was scheduled for June 23rd. While she was confident in her decision, she didn't want people to know. People tend to have two reactions to Courtney's decision - they are either confused and against it or they are inspired and hold Courtney in high regard. She didn't like either response. Many people questioned what she'd do if her one kidney failed. Or if a family member needed a kidney someday. Many people didn't understand. Courtney didn't care.

Courtney and Abbie.

Many people DID understand. As it turns out, while we were praying with and for Courtney, there were folks praying for Bobbette and her future donor. A fellow 3-day walker finally put two and two together, knowing that my sister was donating a kidney and Abbie's friend was getting a kidney today. Twitter buzzed with excitement and tears that the 3-day has brought two amazing people together to save a life. Then I found this: #BobbetteKidney. I sat at my desk and cried. People were praying for my baby sister. People were rejoicing that their friend was getting a chance at life because of this unnamed donor. Then I found an even better hash tag: #thankyouCourtney. And I'm done.

I could go in a million directions:

Courtney and Babbette just days after surgery.

• The 3-day brought Courtney and Bobbette together. Without the 3-Day, I'd never have followed Abbie's blog, passed it to Courtney, and the rest is history.
• My sister is a freaking rockstar. She's more selfless than she'll ever admit and more humble than anyone I've ever met. 
• Our baby is going to have the best aunt in the whole world.