Teachers are some of the most caring, compassionate and praise-worthy people we have the pleasure of doing life with. They spend more time in a day with our kids than most parents do, and the influence they have on a child’s life is monumental.
Especially if you’re Camden Petersen—a 4-year-old preschooler in Nancy Bleuer’s class.
The 54-year-old preschool teacher from Iowa came to learn that Camden’s daddy was very sick from the concerned little boy. It’s not part of her job to care about the parents and families of her students, but as any great teacher knows, it’s what makes the job totally worth it.
Nancy decided to call up Camden’s dad, Darreld, and check in on him while he was sick. What she came to learn was absolutely devastating.
Darreld Petersen
The 34-year-old was in renal kidney failure, and had been placed on dialysis. But even with the help of the machine, Darreld’s kidney was only functioning at 20 percent.
Nancy realized why Camden had been so scared, and without hesitation, decided to do something to help.
Rather than starting with a small gesture like baking brownies or emailing the P.T.A to raise money or start a meal train, Nancy was all in.
The preschool teacher offered Darreld HER OWN KIDNEY!
After being tested to see if she was a match, Nancy found out that she was in fact the miracle that could save Darreld’s life.
Darreld Petersen
She immediately started filling out the paperwork, and couldn’t wait to give her kidney to Darreld, who says he couldn’t be more grateful for Nancy’s willingness and Sacrifice.
“It’s just amazing,” Darreld says. “There are people waiting every day for a kidney, for an organ in general. I wish there were more people like her. She’s giving me a second chance at life.”
Nancy says she’s excited to be a part of the Petersens’ journey, knowing that one day she’ll get to go to Camden’s high school graduation, and because of her kidney, Camden’s dad will be able to go too. Her kidney means many more years of happiness to be shared between this father and his son—a story that could have ended much differently.
What an incredible gift this teacher is to Camden, his dad, Darreld, and all of her students. Someone who cares that deeply for the little people she’s trusted with is a teacher who makes me want to go back to preschool—just so I can be in her class!
All the praise for Nancy, and for the many years of life she just added to a family who was losing hope.
