Laurie & Chris Moore

On October 30, 1969, when Laurie Moore was five years + four days old, she got the best gift ever. Nope, it was not a miniature pony, nor was it a Chatty Cathy doll or an Easy-bake oven. It was a BABY SISTER named Chrissy!

From that day on, Laurie had a shadow. She watched after Chrissy every which way, and what a good caregiver she was! Indeed, when Laurie was old enough, families within a 3 mile radius of their home began seeking Laurie out for babysitting, and soon she became the babysitter in demand. During those babysitting assignments, she'd take Chris in her pigtails along with her. Once those other kids fell asleep, then Laurie and Chris would stay up late, eat Doritos, and watch Grease. ("Tell me about it, stud.") Even back then, Laurie knew her calling was to be a mother. Not surprisingly, today Laurie is the mother to eight marvelous human beings (and she might not be done yet!). Meanwhile, Chris grew up with a warm-hearted, nurturing, and understanding sister and role model. 

At 14, doctors discovered that Chris had strangely high blood pressure, and after some tests, they found that kidney disease was the culprit.  Through diet, exercise, medication, time spent in the woods (especially during April & May when those sneaky morels could be hiding anywhere), and small doses of vodka,  Chris has kept her kidney disease at bay. Most people would never know that she has the disease (which at times is exhausting) because she manages it and most other things in her quiet way. 

This past autumn when Laurie learned that her little sister needed a kidney, she did not hesitate to step up to see if she could donate. Nothing deterred her - not even the fact that she still has two toddlers, two teenagers, and one puppy under her care.

If all goes as planned, then on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, Laurie and Chris will do something miraculous together. A kidney will be taken from Laurie's body and placed inside Chris. This is perfect timing because Chris's kidney function has been hovering just above 10%, and it's also perfect timing because the transplant will occur on Valentine's Day. What an ultimate act of love!