FOLEY — This Thanksgiving, a Baldwin County woman is giving a New Hampshire teen something to be thankful for: the gift of life. Bethany Agee is donating a kidney as a living donor.
The selfless gift to a complete stranger she found on social media is a demonstration of true compassion and love for others, and it all started nearly two years ago.
In 2023, the then 38-year-old heard of a North Alabama woman desperately needing a kidney. After discussing the idea with her husband, Jackson, Agee decided to apply to be a donor. She was never matched with the woman in North Alabama, but her desire to help others didn't end.
Fast-forward a year later, 39-year-old Agee saw another social media post. A mother in New Hampshire was searching Facebook for someone to save her teen daughter's life.
"Based on her age, I was like, 'Man, she shouldn't be worrying about a kidney," Agee said of her young recipient. "She should be worrying about having fun and hanging out with her friends and like the next stage of her life."
After applying and undergoing testing, Agee was informed that she was a direct match.
Agee and her husband will travel to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston at the end of December. The surgery is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025. They will stay in Boston for three weeks after surgery.
While social media can be full of negativity, Agee said this is an example of how it can be used for the greater good. In her case, it put her where she needed to be.
"I kind of always just felt like I was supposed to see that post," she told 1819 News. "I don't know; I just felt like I was going to give her my kidney even before I was a match."
Agee will celebrate her 40th birthday in Boston. She hopes she will be able to meet her recipient. In the meantime, she wants the teen and her family to enjoy the holidays, knowing there will be many more to come.
While she doesn't have to pay medical bills, the couple must pay for travel, lodging and food. After two non-profits turned her down, Agee said she is still going through with the donation because she can't put a price on helping another person live a healthy life.
"At the end of the day, if it has to come out of my pocket for her to get a kidney, that's worth every penny," she said. "Money is nothing right now compared to the fact that she gets a kidney. That's the most important thing out of this whole thing."
Anyone who wants to donate may do so via Venmo @Bethany-Agee.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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