A gift across generations: A social media post sparks a lifesaving connection

Before the surgery, Ashley Waldron had to draw a map for people. “He’s my mom’s best friend’s husband’s stepdad,” she’d explain with a laugh. Frederick Conklin was a distant family connection, a kind man she’d met only a handful of times. But when his life was on the line, that remote connection proved to be the only one that mattered.

For over 2 decades, Mr. Conklin’s job at Home Depot was all about helping people. Now, 78 and retired, he crafts handmade children’s toys in his Milanville workshop, his steady hands turning wood into treasures.

But for decades, a quiet worry hummed in the background. He lived with a genetic condition that caused gradual kidney failure. By late 2023, his kidney function dropped to 16%. It was time for the transplant list.

"I was on the transplant list for a little over a year," he recalls. Seeing others share their need online, he decided to do the same. "I just thought I'd put a story together about what I did and how I got to that point," he says. He hit "post" and hoped for the best.

An unlikely connection

Hundreds of miles away, Ms. Waldron, a 25-year-old teacher, was scrolling through her phone. She saw the post and realized they had the same blood type. Something clicked. 

“It was pretty immediate,” she says. “Right off the bat, as soon as I saw it, I submitted the initial information.”

A test of persistence

The path forward wasn't simple. "The testing process was not a smooth ride for me," Ms. Waldron admits. She lives in Baltimore City, and the first blood package that was mailed to her was stolen from her doorstep. A second kit went to a lab that failed to label the vials. Through it all, her transplant coordinator, Denise Hall, kept her on track.

"Ashley had more than her share of hiccups in the testing process, but she never let any of it stop her,” says Ms. Hall. “I just tried to be there for her each step of the way, making things a little easier whenever I could."

Ms. Waldron refused to give up. “Something in me was really set on finding out if I was a match,” she says.

A surprising discovery

Her persistence paid off — she was a match. But the evaluations revealed something unexpected. Ms. Waldron had Nutcracker syndrome, a vein compression condition that likely would have caused her pain later in life.

“Finding out that I had Nutcracker syndrome did definitely play a part in me going through with the surgery,” she explains. Learning the kidney was still healthy enough to donate felt magical. “I was grateful to have found out early and be able to help someone.”

Her surgeon, Michael Marvin, MD, made sure she felt prepared, walking her through the procedure with videos. "That really helped me feel a lot more comfortable," she says.

Two journeys, one big day

In January 2025, with surgery on the horizon, Mr. Conklin and his family felt a sense of calm trust in his team. “They had the nicest people I've ever seen, the nicest staff,” he says. “Everything was scheduled correctly. Everything went through on time. No delays. They keep you informed all the way along.”

Ms. Waldron felt a wave of nerves seeing Mr. Conklin in the pre-op area. But the team offered constant reassurance, giving her the agency to change her mind at any point.

She didn't. The surgery was a success. “My nursing team post-op was phenomenal,” Ms. Waldron says. “I couldn't have been more grateful for the care that they all provided.” That care even included a personal call from her surgeon when he was out of the office to check on her pain.

Dr. Marvin reflects, "Living donors are amazing people. To donate a piece of yourself to save someone else's life while knowing that there are risks to your own health is awe-inspiring. Thankfully, living donation not only helps the recipient of the ‘gift of life,’ but can also help donors with some of their own potential health issues that can be identified during the extensive testing prior to donation.”

A new chapter

Today, Mr. Conklin’s kidney function is around 90%. "I don't have to worry about kidney failure anymore," he says with relief.

For Ms. Waldron, the journey back to feeling like herself took a few months. But now, more than a year out, she reports, "My day-to-day life is completely the same as it was before surgery.”

The two have stayed in touch. Their families celebrated together at a 6-month post-transplant party, complete with fireworks. For Ms. Waldron, the donation left her with a powerful lesson she shares with her students.

“Being able to show them that just because someone isn't super close in your life doesn't mean you can't make an impact on them in some way,” she says. “My kids started talking about the different ways that they can make an impact on others.”

Next steps: 

Read and watch more stories
Learn about Geisinger’s kidney transplant program
What does “organ donor” mean on your driver’s license?