Nicole McNeil is a Starbucks barista in DuPont, Washington when, back in January 2017, she noticed one of her regulars, Vince Villano, had been looking depressed.
As she told her local news, “He kind of seemed like a Eeyore, just a little bit grouchy, a little bit of a sad sack all the time.”
After several more visits, Nicole decided to ask, “What’s been going on with you?”
She meant her question, and assured Vince that she would sit and listen to him if he wanted to talk. Once he gained the courage, Vince explained that he struggles with polycystic kidney disease, which is an incurable genetic condition causing cysts to form on his kidneys.
Vince was in need of a kidney transplant, or faced a lifetime of dialysis or possible worse.
The story broke Nicole’s heart, as she carried the story with her through the end of her shift, and ended up sharing the story with her husband Justin once she was home from work.
Justin told her, without hesitation, “I’ve got a kidney, you know, we could do this. I think I’m willing to do that.”
After starting the testing process, Justin and Vince began spending a lot more time together and realized they had quite a lot in common – both are Army veterans . . . both like camping & hunting . . . and both were a perfect match for the living kidney donation.
Just last week, the two men, now dear friends, underwent the transplant surgery, which was a SUCCESS!
Vince may have gotten a new kidney, but all three have been blessed with a lifelong friendship.
Vince shared, “In general, having them as friends, family, I wouldn’t want it to not be this way. I can’t imagine not having them in my life.”
