Jodi Schmidt: A Truly Selfless Organ Donor #AtoZChallenge

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
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When Natasha Fuller's grandmother Chris Burelton got the call to come to the school urgently, she feared the worst. Suffering from the rare prune belly syndrome since birth, Natasha had required dialysis for her failing kidneys for most of her 8 young years. The reason she lived in Oakfield with her grandparents and away from her parents and siblings was in fact because she needed the specialized hospital care available there.

At eight years of age, Natasha was in the last stages of kidney failure and dying and kept getting pushed down the transplant list due to recurrent infections.

When Chris reached Oakfield Elementary, she was made to sit down by the Principal and a fellow teacher. A pink gift box was then handed to her. Confused, she opened it up and then burst into tears.

When she realized she was a match, school teacher Jodi Schmidt selflessly donated her own kidney to 8 year old Natasha Fuller who was dying of kidney failure.
Inside was a note that simply said,"It's a match."

When she realized she was a match, school teacher Jodi Schmidt selflessly donated her own kidney to 8 year old Natasha Fuller who was dying of kidney failure.

Unknown to the grandmother, the teacher sitting beside her, Jodi Schmidt, had got herself tested and when she turned out to be a match, decided to give the child her kidney. Amazingly, Jodi had never even taught Natasha. The two would just cross each other in the hallway and Jodi loved the young girl's cheery nature and talkative nature.

When she realized she was a match, school teacher Jodi Schmidt selflessly donated her own kidney to 8 year old Natasha Fuller who was dying of kidney failure.
I have no fears at all, no worries. It is something I feel I have 
been called to do and have never felt more 
confident with a decision I have made.” 
- Jodi Schmidt

Jodi and her husband also helped organize fundraisers to cover Natasha's medical bills. In May 2016, the transplant surgery took place. It was successful.

When she realized she was a match, school teacher Jodi Schmidt selflessly donated her own kidney to 8 year old Natasha Fuller who was dying of kidney failure.

A few months later, when school restarted, Natasha Fuller walked in together with her teacher Jodi Schmidt to the sounds of applause and cheer from all the staff and children at Oakfield Elementary.

Why I want you to remember Jodi Schmidt

Organ donation is a topic that needs a lot more attention that it receives. For a living being to give away a vital organ voluntarily is a rarity even today, often related with financial or familial conditions in India, at least. For a young teacher, a mother of three, to give it to a child she just sees walking around at school, requires a heart filled with good will and love for mankind.

Would you like to see the exact moment the grandmother and child realized they had found a match? Here you go. (Spoiler alert: Keep a handkerchief ready.)



This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.

When she realized she was a match, school teacher Jodi Schmidt selflessly donated her own kidney to 8 year old Natasha Fuller who was dying of kidney failure.

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30Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. Hats off to Jodi for that gesture. To bring hope and life to a family when there seemed to be none. Just brilliant.

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  2. what a woman she is! I still can't believe she did that! Salute to her.
    Tina

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  3. Oh this is so beautiful. It's indeed rare to see a living person donating their organ. My heart is always full with love and warmth after reading your posts Doc.

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  4. Wow! Such kindness. A beautiful story to read this morning. Roshan, so wonderful of you to bring such amazing real life stories to us. I'm so lagging behind the reading but I'll catch up :) these are not worth missing.

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  5. Roshan I am in tears every morning reading your beautiful posts- god bless you for bringing out these stories to me.


    Once upon a time

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  6. OMG!! Jodi donated her kidney to a student whom she didnt even teach!! What a selfless act this is!! Truly awe-inspiring.

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  7. Hard to keep the tears back Roshan. Truly a magnanimous gesture to donate an organ ...

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  8. What a woman!
    Couldn't watch the video at work, but needed the handkerchief anyway while reading this.

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  9. What a generous gift! Thank you for sharing this amazing story. Organ donation has a negative stigma attached in some world regions and that is unfortunate.

    Emily | My Life In Ecuador | Olon Orphanage

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  10. A truly selfless gesture! God bless Jodi and may she enjoy good health for as long as she lives!

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  11. Lovely story as usual. Coming forward for an organ donation without anyone even asking is selfless indeed!

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  12. I have read about her and her great gesture. Yet another lively tale of humanity. Inspirational!

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  13. This takes a lot of courage .Wonderful that the little girl.gets a chance to live again

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  14. An inspiring story filled with courage and selflessness. Another good one Roshan.

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  15. Come to think of it, many people dream of doing such noble acts but only few have that courage to go ahead and do them. Jodi is one of those rare few. Natasha sure got lucky there!

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  16. My heavens! It takes a lot of courage and goodwill to do something like that. That video was overwhelming. Thank you again, Roshan! :)
    Thailand Travel Stories at Kohl Eyed Me
    26 Indian Dishes at Something's Cooking

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  17. This is such a beautiful story, Roshan! And the girl looks so cute... I feel so happy she got her donor!

    Cheers
    BoisterousBee

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  18. Such a heartwarming tale. Helping someone whom you already know is coming but just helping a little girl whom you just came across is indeed wonderful.

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  19. What an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing.

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  20. We come across so many brutal incidents on the news everyday that humans such as Jodi and such humane acts are just unbelievable, yet they exist. Her story did wet my eyes! Thanks for sharing! Enjoyed reading your post. Im glad to know there's good people out there in the world.

    Oooops! I read it again! -- Re-visiting books that we love!

    Regards,
    Pikakshi
    Readers of the Night

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  21. So wonderful!
    Hats off to Jodi. She didn't even teach Natasha & still went ahead with her decision.

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  22. hats off for her efforts and yes she's is the true Teacher who set examples for the world to learn from Interesting post, enjoyed a lot
    Thanks for sharing
    Dr Bushra
    Do visit mineO for Opt for Quitting Smoking during Pregnancy

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  23. I need a handkerchief to get through each one of your posts, doc. This one specially. It's so heart-warming to read about someone doing a good deed without any hidden agenda!

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  24. Wow Jodi is indeed a hero! Specially- when she did not even teach her!

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  25. Omg ! This is such a touching story. Kudos to the teacher for being so sweet and willing to help the girl.

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  26. How come your are able to find such acts of kindness? The lessons we learn from these people will add to our character forever.

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  27. Not many people would have the courage to do this however good their heart might be. We dont need to canonize people to recognize as saints, they walk among us already.

    Phenomenon
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  28. Omg I'm actually crying 😢. I need tissues. This is so selfless of Jodi. Salute to courageous and selfless people like Jodi

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  29. Salute to such a brave and kind lady. She is a true angel.

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  30. Indeed Natasha's is the luckiest student in the world to get such a life long Support from her teacher.

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