In life, chance encounters can lead to profound connections and unforeseen acts of kindness.

This was especially true for John Cunningham and his daughter, Molly Jones, whose lives were forever changed by a serendipitous meeting with paramedic Kristi Hadfield.

In a remarkable tale of generosity and fate, Hadfield’s life-saving efforts came full circle when she saw a Facebook post.

It all started, though, in 2016. John Cunningham’s life hung in the balance when he suffered a cardiac arrest while driving in Ritchie County, W.Va. Luckily, he found himself near an emergency medical station and the quick response of the EMTs brought him face-to-face with Kristi Hadfield, an experienced paramedic. With fast thinking and unwavering determination, Hadfield administered life-saving chest compressions, miraculously reviving Cunningham’s heart.

Not today, John. Not today,” Hadfield recalled saying to the man.

Hadfield and Cunningham stayed in touch through social media. This connection would prove yet again life-saving for Cunningham’s family. Just for a different family member. When Molly Jones, Cunningham’s daughter, fell seriously ill in January 2022 due to advanced kidney disease, she turned to Facebook to share her health crisis and her need for a kidney transplant.

Molly Jones and Kristi Hadfield smile during Jones’ hospital stay. Photo by the Hadfield family

Among those who saw Jones’s plea was none other than Hadfield. An overwhelming sense of destiny compelled her to reach out to Jones with an incredible offer: her own kidney. The unexpected message left Jones stunned, and she marveled at Hadfield’s compassionate gesture. “I honestly don’t know how long I sat there in shock,” she said.

The process of becoming a living donor is both rigorous and intensive, involving numerous medical evaluations to ensure the donor’s safety. As Hadfield underwent extensive testing, Jones’s health continued to decline rapidly, leaving her uncertain about her future. However, Hadfield’s unwavering support provided a glimmer of hope during the darkest days of Jones’s illness. She encouraged Jones every step of the way, urging her not to give up the fight.

Finally, the day of the transplant arrived. On December 27, 2022, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the two women met face-to-face for the first time since their fateful connection. Emotions ran high as tears of joy flowed freely, and Cunningham was there to support his daughter, now a recipient of a precious gift of life.

Dr. Amit Tevar, the surgical director of the kidney and pancreas transplant program at UPMC, praised the extraordinary display of human altruism exhibited by Hadfield. Living donor transplants, he said, like the one performed for Jones, offer numerous benefits, including better long-term outcomes for the recipient.

Molly Jones and her daughter. Photo by the Cunningham family

For Jones, the successful transplant marked the beginning of a new lease on life. Grateful beyond measure, she expressed her feelings, saying, “My daughter is my entire life, and because of Kristi, I’m going to get to see my daughter graduate, I’m going to get to see her go to college”

I’m going to get to see who she grows up to be.”

Hadfield, on the other hand, feels that she gained more than she gave through this life-changing experience. “The blessing that you get from it is so much more than you give,” she said.

The gift of life she gave Jones is a testament to the goodness that exists in humanity.

Watch below for a look at this amazing story.

Sources: Washington Post | ABC