The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Leah Hostalet Helps Find Kidney Transplant Matches on Facebook

This Valentine's Day, kidney transplant recipient Jerry Wilde is celebrating life with his family thanks to a devoted friend, a generous stranger – and Facebook.

When the kidney he had received through a transplant in 1992 developed a cancerous tumor and was surgically removed, Wilde was put back on dialysis and was told that just eight percent of people with his blood type could be his donor. Dozens of friends, family and colleagues were tested to see if they were a match, but to no avail.

"The waiting period for my blood type on the transplant list was long, between two and a half and three years," says Wilde, 50, a professor of educational psychology at Indiana University East. "I didn't think I'd survive that long. I thought, 'Well this just isn't going to happen. I'm just going to wither away.'"

But when Leah Hostalet, Wilde's friend and former student, saw a status update from Wilde in November of 2011 that he was in search of a kidney donor, she wanted to help.

On November 18 she set up a Facebook page, Find a Kidney for Jerry, which included his blood type and other pertinent medical information. Becky Melton – a total stranger to Wilde – saw the page that would change both their lives.

"I was looking for purpose in my life. It just struck me," says Melton, 28, who was scrolling through Facebook when she saw Jerry's page, "I thought, 'I want to do this. This is my guy. I am going to give him my kidney.' "

Melton, a loan processor in Richmond, Ind., and Wilde exchanged information. On December 14, Melton found out she was a match, and texted Wilde a photo of herself holding a sign with a picture of two kidneys on it. The sign read: "We're a match!" Wilde still gets choked up thinking about that day.

"I was standing in the living room in shock," he says. "I had never met this person. It's like, who does this for a complete stranger?"

On February 24, 2012, the transplant took place and Wilde has been healthy ever since.


From left: Becky Melton, Jerry Wilde and Lea Hostalet four months after his transplant

[kuhio98]

JAMESTOWN, N.C. — A dog that was stolen from a Jamestown home back in 2011 returned home on Wednesday.

Zorro, a 170-pound Great Dane, was stolen during a home invasion on Nov. 11, 2011. Marcie Trogdon told FOX8 back in 2011 someone entered the home through an unlocked door and stole the dog.

“A laptop or a TV can be replaced. Zorro is like a family member. All my kids are grown, so he’s my baby,” Trogdon said in 2011.

Then, on Wednesday night, Zorro showed up at her house.

Trogdon said her neighbor alerted her to the large dog outside of her door.

“He was like ‘Do you know who’s dog this is?’ And I said, ‘what dog?’ and about that time Zorro comes running around the corner and I said ‘Oh my God! That’s Zorro!” Trogdon said.

Zorro is overweight and has ringworm but otherwise seems healthy and happy.

Trogdon thinks someone stole her dog and brought him back when his care became too expensive.

[pomtzu]

JAMESTOWN, N.C. — A dog that was stolen from a Jamestown home back in 2011 returned home on Wednesday.

Zorro, a 170-pound Great Dane, was stolen during a home invasion on Nov. 11, 2011. Marcie Trogdon told FOX8 back in 2011 someone entered the home through an unlocked door and stole the dog.

“A laptop or a TV can be replaced. Zorro is like a family member. All my kids are grown, so he’s my baby,” Trogdon said in 2011.

Then, on Wednesday night, Zorro showed up at her house.

Trogdon said her neighbor alerted her to the large dog outside of her door.

“He was like ‘Do you know who’s dog this is?’ And I said, ‘what dog?’ and about that time Zorro comes running around the corner and I said ‘Oh my God! That’s Zorro!” Trogdon said.

Zorro is overweight and has ringworm but otherwise seems healthy and happy.

Trogdon thinks someone stole her dog and brought him back when his care became too expensive.

WOW!!! Great story........

[phesina]

How nice that they brought him back and didn't just abandon him!

Nice tale there!

[kuhio98]

My Loving Husband

My husband was so sick this past Tuesday that we had to go to our Doctor. As we were leaving a older lady was short the $10.00 to pay her co-pay. She said she did not have it with her. My husband overheard this and handed the lady at the desk the $10 for the other woman. She was so appreciative and she wanted to know my husband's name so she could pay him back and he said don't worry about it it's only ten dollars. And she said thank you to him and then we left. My husband has a heart of gold, whether he is sick or healthy!

[carole]

You both have a heart of gold,I know that more than anyone,it is such a privilege to know such kind awesome people .:love

[gini]

All of these stories warm your heart and make you hopeful that with all of the bad stories we hear each day, that the good stories really do exceed the bad.

Thanks for sharing all of the stories.

[kuhio98]

You both have a heart of gold,I know that more than anyone,it is such a privilege to know such kind awesome people .:love

Bobcat is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. So glad he chose me (or did I choose him?)

But, I just wanted you to know that I found this story on a "pay if forward" website. No names were given, so I don't know who the real people were. It wasn't me and Bobcat, though.

There are so many more good people in the world than bad. I'm sick and tired of all the bad ones getting the press. So, if you see, read or experience a hopeful, positive moment, please share.