In what began as an ordinary day at preschool, a four-year-old boy’s innocent revelation set off a chain of events that would change a family’s life forever. Nancy BL, affectionately known as Miss Nancy by her students, has been a dedicated teacher for 54 years. But nothing prepared her for the startling news she heard from one of her young pupils, Camden Peterson.
During a lively morning in class, Camden casually mentioned something unusual about his father that immediately caught Nancy’s attention. At first, she thought it was just a passing comment from a young child. However, as the day went on, the words stayed with her. During playtime, Camden confided that his father, Darald Peterson, was very sick and in desperate need of help.
Curious and concerned, Nancy gently asked Camden more questions. She soon learned that Darald, just 34 years old, had been diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, a severe kidney disease that had led to complete kidney failure. He had been on dialysis for years, anxiously waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant.
Moved by the gravity of Darald’s situation, Nancy made a bold and selfless decision. Despite barely knowing Darald, she offered to donate one of her kidneys to him. After contacting Darald and undergoing weeks of thorough medical testing and psychological evaluations, Nancy was confirmed as a perfect match.
In January 2017, the transplant surgeries were performed successfully. Within a week, both Nancy and Darald were recovering at home. For Darald, who had battled the disease since 2010, the transplant was nothing short of a miracle.
Today, Darald hopes his story will raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and celebrate the kindness of ordinary people like Nancy, who became more than a teacher—she became a guardian angel for his family.
