SPRINGFIELD-A wanted ad for a kidney posted on the Craigslist website gripped
headlines across the nation touching the hearts of thousands. A
Springfield resident has come to the rescue of that person in desperate
need.

It was 13 months ago today that Springfield resident,
Stephanie Grant, changed the life of a complete stranger. She donated
her kidney to a Florida resident after seeing her story on national
television about someone posting an ad for a kidney on craigslist.
      
After
years of waiting on a kidney and undergoing hours of dialysis every
night, Florida resident, Selina Hodge, had her prayers answered by
Springfield native, Stephanie Grant, who moved to Florida in search of a
new job. After seeing  Selina's story on her local news station,
Stephanie knew she had to do something.

"I had a gut instinct I had to contact her right away, I had to find out how I could help, what I could do."

Stephanie
was just one of 800 people across the globe who responded to her
Craigslist ad, saying she would love to help anyway she could and she
did just that.

"At the beginning, I really didn't think I was
going to be the one, how out of all these hundreds of people, how am I
going to be the one, how am I going to be the match and when I found out
that once they get one match, they stop testing everyone else," Grant
said. "So I was the only one tested and I was the only match found."

"When
I found out that she was the perfect match, I was like 'oh my goodness'
you know 'wow this is it' finally I found someone who was the perfect
match and that's all for it and willing to help me and save my life,"
said Hodge. "It was the best feeling in the world that I was going to
get a second chance at life."

Finding a match was only the
beginning, Stephanie had to go through many psychosocial and medical
tests to make sure she knew what she was getting herself into.

"I
wanted to do this, I knew this is what I wanted to do," Hodge said. "I
never doubted it even though this is major surgery you know you have to
consider that."

She didn't do this for money or fame. she did it out of the kindness of her heart

"I received a lifelong friend and she received the gift of life," Grant said.

Stephanie and Selina still remain friends and talk on a weekly basis.
Stephanie said if she had an infinite amount of kidneys, she would give them all to those in need.

According
to the National Kidney Foundation, there are more than 90,000 people in
the U.S. currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
 
If you are interested in becoming a living donor or want more information on Kidney donation click here.Local Resident Donates Kidney to Craigslist Stranger