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This Thing Called Life is a podcast dedicated to acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Host Andi Johnson introduces you to powerful organ, tissue, and eye donation stories from individuals, families, and front-line healthcare teams. These stories are meant to inspire and remind you that while life can be challenging and unpredictable, it’s also incredibly beautiful. We hope this podcast inspires you to connect with our life-saving and life-healing mission.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Title: "Meeting My Kidney Sister: Sarah Green-Moore’s Story of Healing and Purpose"
🎙️ Episode Summary
In this heartfelt episode of This Thing Called Life, we sit down with Sarah Green-Moore, a kidney transplant recipient whose story is as inspiring as it is extraordinary. Sarah shares the unforgettable moment she met her “kidney sister” — the woman receiving the other kidney from the same donor — in the hospital lobby just before their transplants. Now, thriving with a new lease on life, Sarah is paying it forward by caring for her 8-year-old daughter who needed her when she was least expecting it. This is a moving story of second chances, sisterhood, and the power of showing up when it matters most.
✨ Episode Highlights
Sarah Green-Moore shares her story, beginning in 2015 when her primary physician referred her to a specialist for kidney issues, and a moment that would soon change her life.
Ignoring the warning signs, Sarah initially brushed off her doctor’s advice, believing she was healthy and active. But her mother’s illness with multiple myeloma in 2012 became a turning point that reminded her of the fragility of life.
Determined to face her health head-on, she decided to take responsibility for her well-being to avoid burdening her siblings, who relied on her strength and support.
When her specialist advised starting dialysis, Sarah resisted the idea, struggling to reconcile how someone who “felt fine” could be so sick.
The emotional weight of the diagnosis sank in, and she had to come to terms with the reality of living with kidney disease.
Sarah shared the difficult news with her oldest brother, whose heartbreak reflected the entire family’s shock and concern.
In seeking answers, Sarah researched her family’s health history, only to find that chronic kidney disease (CKD) didn’t run in the family — making her condition even more puzzling.
She decided to break the news to her family through a picnic, a setting filled with love yet marked by emotional reactions and tears.
Visiting dialysis centers opened Sarah’s eyes to the reality of the journey ahead, stirring both fear and uncertainty, yet also courage.
She remained steadfast in her resolve to maintain her independence and dignity, refusing to let illness define her.
With family encouragement, Sarah focused on getting healthier and being placed on the transplant waiting list.
In 2017, she received the call that changed everything — her time for a transplant had come.
In an extraordinary twist, Sarah met another patient in the hospital and soon discovered they were both receiving kidneys from the same donor, forming an unbreakable bond as the “kidney sisters.”
Eight years later, Sarah reflects on life post-transplant and her journey as a mother, a caretaker, and an advocate for others walking similar paths.
Her “kidney sister” became her accountability partner and emotional anchor, proving how shared experiences can create lasting friendships.
Sarah believes in the power of speaking openly about her experience to encourage others to face their health fears and seek help early.
She and Andi discuss the need to educate the public about organ donation, dispelling misconceptions and promoting understanding.
They highlight the benefits of the Paired Kidney Exchange Program, which helps match living donors and recipients more efficiently.
Sarah closes by encouraging everyone to consider organ donation and embrace the opportunity to give life to others.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Listening to your body can save your life. Sarah’s story reminds us that even when we feel “fine,” it’s crucial to pay attention to medical advice and early warning signs — prevention and awareness can make all the difference.
- Connection brings healing. Meeting her “kidney sister” turned a medical journey into a story of shared hope, mutual strength, and lasting friendship — showing how donation can create unexpected bonds.
- Advocacy through authenticity. By sharing her experiences openly, Sarah helps others overcome fear, understand the truth about kidney disease, and see organ donation as an act of compassion and courage.
📢 Tweetable Quotes
“And so when I decided to listen, I went to the specialist, and the specialist was like, It's time for you to do dialysis. I'm looking at him like, ‘You're whack’, I'm not having any symptoms, and I've always dealt with being anemic from when I started my menstrual cycle, so that was nothing new to me.”
- Sarah Green-Moore on being recommended for dialysis
“ I had to tell him the only thing that's wrong with your sister. She needs a kidney. That's the only thing that's wrong with me.”
- Sarah Green-Moore on sharing the news with family
“I almost started wanting to fight again, especially when it was time for me to get my access, I was like. I could not fathom being connected to a machine that I knew would save my life.”
- Sarah Green-Moore on starting dialysis
“This doesn't define me. This doesn't say who I am, but I have to be honest about going through that journey and visiting the different centers and things that scared the fool out of me.”
- Sarah Green-Moore
“To be able to have somebody where I could just be there for each other, just hold her hand, and she can hold my hand.”
- Sarah Green-Moore on having her kidney sister
Resources:
https://www.networkforhope.org/
https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/
https://www.networkforhope.org/stories-of-hope/
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO
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