Amanda Hayhurst saw the flyer that would change her life — and save the life of another — as she and her younger son waited for her eldest son to finish taekwondo class. The flyer told the story of Vonchelle Knight, a 50-year-old single mother of two, who had been searching for a kidney donor for eight years.
One of Knight’s daughters, Courtney Knight, 29, worked at the studio and posted the flyer for her mom.
Courtesy Amanda Hayhurst
The flyer for Vonchelle Knight that caught Amanda Hayhurst’s eye is pictured.
“Typically I would never read a flyer like that but it pulled me in,” Hayhurst, 32, said.
“I knew before I finished reading that we were going to be a match. I just knew it.
”
(MORE: Kate Beckinsale hospitalized for ruptured ovarian cyst: What women should know)
Hayhurst, of Decatur, Georgia, did not know anything about the kidney transplant process but thought, “If not me, who? She is on this list and none of her friends and family are a match.
”
Courtesy Amanda Hayhurst
Amanda Hayhurst, of Beaufort, Georgia, poses with her sons Reese, 1, and Jett, 9.
Over the next few weeks, Hayhurst underwent extensive testing to see if her kidney would work for Knight, a stranger whom she still had not met.
Doctors determined in December, nearly two months after Hayhurst first saw the flyer, that the two were a perfect match.
“It felt like Christmas to me,” said Hayhurst, who had only let her husband, Marcus, know what she was doing.
“I was so excited to meet her and tell her.”
Courtesy Amanda Hayhurst
Amanda Hayhurst, 32, poses with her husband, Marcus, before surgery.
Hayhurst returned to the taekwondo studio to tell Knight’s daughter about the news first.
Then, the pair went to Knight’s house and surprised her upon her arrival from work.
“We cried for like two hours and just talked,” Hayhurst recalled. “We talked and cried and I held her. It was just really sweet.”
Knight, an analyst in the bone marrow transplant unit of a local hospital, called Hayhurst’s news a “very special gift,” one that she will “cherish always.”
“I knew God was telling me he had a blessing for me and it was going to be big,” she said.
“He just told me to be still and quiet and in time it would be revealed, then Amanda showed up and it was one of the greatest moments.”
(MORE: Hospital baby boom: 8 OBGYN nurses give birth to adorable babies)
Knight was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 2004. She was put on dialysis in 2013, and had since spent nine hours daily hooked up to the machine, which she used while she slept. She was unable to travel and often experienced fatigue and cramps.
Courtesy Courtney Givner
Vonchelle Knight, of Georgia, and her two daughters pose for a photo during her search for a kidney donor.
All of that changed on Jan. 25, when Knight and Hayhurst underwent a successful kidney transplant at Atlanta’s Piedmont Hospital.
Hayhurst was released from the hospital the day after the surgery.
“Having a baby for me was harder than this,” she said.
“I feel like more people need to know more about it.”
Courtesy Amanda Hayhurst
Amanda Hayhurst, 32, left, poses with Vonchelle Knight, 50, after their transplant.
Knight said she is recovering well and expects to be released from the hospital in the next few days.
The two women who were once strangers now talk every day; their families even spent Christmas together. Hayhurst’s employer has also said it will provide meals for Knight and her family for the next three months.
Courtesy Amanda Hayhurst
Vonchelle Knight holds Reese, the youngest son of Amanda Hayhurst.
Hayhurst has also become an advocate for kidney donations, using Facebook to help connect donors and recipients.
Hayhurst and Knight both said they are already planning a vacation together to celebrate Knight’s new life.
“Amanda is going to be my sister for life,” Knight said. “Her family is my family so we’ll always be together.
”
Mom of 2 donates kidney to single mom of 2 after seeing flyer + ‘Invisible labor’ taking a toll on mothers’ well-being: What you need to know Federal judge warns she may impose gag order on Roger Stone, prosecutors Michael Avenatti won’t be charged for alleged domestic violence at this time White House reveals title, themes of Trump’s State of the Union Burglars take off with $300K in cash and jewelry after ransacking LA mansion Native American communities worry about long-term effects from shutdown ‘Empire’ star says his account of attack hasn’t changed NYC ‘SIM swapping’ indictment spotlights tech-savvy fraud targeting crypto-currency Foxconn again shifts Wisconsin plan after Trump intervenes Apple says Group FaceTime will be back next week, bug-free Lindsey Vonn to retire after world championships Taxi, Uber and Lyft rides in NYC will cost more after congestion pricing surcharge Video shows massive wall of sludge surging toward city after dam collapse in Brazil Pence meets with exiles, vows to stand with them until a ‘free Venezuela’ restored US added 304K jobs in January, unemployment increases to 4 percent Brooklyn women file lawsuit alleging NYPD is ‘failing sexual assault victims’ Iran starts marking 40th anniversary of Islamic Revolution Vatican magazine denounces sexual abuse of nuns by priests Perfect attendance: 3 fans to keep Super Bowl streak alive Police probing accusations that missing man scammed people on Super Bowl tickets Hashtag stirs debate over role of Christian schools in US Prison animal programs are benefitting both inmates and hard-to-adopt dogs: Experts Cafe employs people with mental disabilities Police officer under investigation after alleged racist social media video Murderer executed in 1999 identified as man allegedly behind 1979 cold case killing 5 shows to watch if the Super Bowl is not your thing Meghan Markle writes empowering messages on bananas for women living on the streets Comedian releases novel inspired by his Irish roots Female high school quarterback throws TD on 1st pass in varsity game.