I’m Molly Williams and Polycystic Kidney Disease runs in my family. My mom had it and my brother does too. When I was 26, I went for a test to become my mom’s liver donor and discovered that I had PKD too. It was a real punch in the gut. Learning this at a young age was devastating but it quickly put me on a track of looking for a donor.

I really wanted the donor to be someone I knew, since I figured we’d be connected for the rest of our lives. I asked families members and my high school best friends, who all got tested but were unable to donate for various reasons. At that point, I didn’t know where to turn.

I’m Kristi Cooper. I knew Molly from a fitness class we took every Saturday morning. We knew each other casually; we’d talk about our kids and jobs, but we weren’t close. I noticed that she had missed a couple of classes so when she returned, I asked why. She explained that she had been sick. She said she needed a kidney.

I noticed that she had missed a couple of classes so when she returned, I asked why. She explained that she had been sick. She said she needed a kidney.

Molly: Later that night, Kristi messaged me on Facebook to ask “What is your date of birth? I am filling out the paperwork to become your kidney donor.” And that was the beginning our journey.

Kristi: Molly is such a bright light in this world that I knew I had to do something. My parents, my mom especially, worried about me giving away a kidney. She asked “what if one your boys needs one?” and my answer to that was “what if they don’t? What if they don’t and I miss this opportunity to help someone who really needs it?” But they were all for it after they met Molly. And after the transplant, our two families spent Christmas together. Our lives continue to be intertwined; our kids – my twin sons and Molly’s daughter – ended up at the same university, they’re close friends. When Molly’s parents are in town, my sons go over and see them.

Molly: I now have 3 kidneys! A year after I received Kristi’s kidney, we went to a church in Detroit called Bonaventure. My faith had gotten me through some difficult times and I wanted to complete the journey with this visit. One of the monks said to Kristi ‘You needed this. This was for you.’

Kristi: It was a very cathartic moment. I was in tears.

Molly: It’s easy to have faith when things are going well. Faith is really tested when it’s your only peace. When you have faith then, a plan that’s greater than anything you could have come up with on your own takes form. Kristi was the plan.

It’s easy to have faith when things are going well. Faith is really tested when it’s your only peace. When you have faith then, a plan that’s greater than anything you could have come up with on your own takes form.

Kristi: So often they tell donors that you’re saving a life, but this was lifesaving for me. I'm so glad I could do this for Molly, but I feel like I got so much back in return. A sense of purpose, a sense of community and now the Williams family. It's such a blessing to us. I gained a life-long friend and a new family too. Who would have guessed that this would happen going to a workout class on a Saturday morning?