WHITE SOX FAN SAVES LIFE OF CUBS FAN WITH KIDNEY DONATION

This story begins in May of 2019 with a sign held up at a baseball game that read, “This lil’ Cubbie needs a kidney!” Today, two people are forever linked with a bond that is literally life altering.

View this post on Instagram

Such a fun night at the cubs game! I got a swag bag and I got my sign I made noticed! Hopefully more good things coming! I am always trying to stay positive! CUBS WON! #ineedakidney #lupus #dialysis #chicago #cubs #livelife #smile #lupuswarrior #girl #wrigleyfield #kidney #donor #live

A post shared by Bridgett Kolls (@bridgettttt96) on May 7, 2019 at 9:01pm PDT

Bridgett Kolls was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2017. She’s a huge Cubs fan and she attended a game in May of 2019. She held up her sign, hoping to attract a kidney donor! At that time, she was on dialysis treatments 3 times a week/4 hours each day for her failing kidneys just to stay afloat.

View this post on Instagram

Lol why am I like this?…. Moral of the story, dialysis sucks & I need a kidney. Also, need to get to a beach ASAP. #kidneywarrior #awaitingtransplant #lupus #lupuswarrior #nationalkidneyfoundation #dialysis #dialysislife #dialysissucks #behealthy #lovelife #heartyourkidneys #stayingstrong #positivevibes #mylife #ifwecouldntlaughwewouldallgoinsane

A post shared by Bridgett Kolls (@bridgettttt96) on Jun 13, 2019 at 10:30am PDT

Bridgett had no idea if her sign would draw attention, but thankfully it did! A White Sox fan by the name of Tom Alessio (whose father once played for the Cubs’ minor league teams) saw Bridgett’s sign and decided to get tested to see if he was a match. You guessed it…he was, and they got to meet for the first time! And…I’m crying!

View this post on Instagram

June 12th 2020: The day I met my kidney donor. This is Thomas, he is a great man. He saw my Cubs sign I held up May 2019. I don’t know how I got so lucky with such an incredible human being donating a kidney to me. It is so moving because all he wants to do is save a life and that is exactly what he is doing for me. I try hard not to think about the future too much, which is why I remain so calm…but truth be told, dialysis cannot keep me alive forever. I live each day like it’s my last! Thanks to Thomas, I am able to live a much longer, healthier life. We are still currently waiting on COVID numbers to decrease for a new scheduled transplant date. We are both so excited!Thomas it was a pleasure meeting you, best day of my life, many more good days to come. Thank you. #kidneytransplant #kidneytransplantrecipient #kidneytransplantjourney #kidneydonor #kidneywarrior #lupuswarrior #dialysis #waitingpatiently #thankyou #blessed #heroes #captainamerica #staystrong @nkfillinois @cubs @thomas_alessio

A post shared by Bridgett Kolls (@bridgettttt96) on Jun 13, 2020 at 9:30am PDT

Fast forward to July of this year. Tom donated his kidney to Bridgett and they’re both doing great! However, Bridgett does not have any plans to become a White Sox fan any time soon! LOL! Some things are sacred!

View this post on Instagram

I still feel great and I’m happy to be here?Due to my wild, crazy lupus antibodies, I had to get a total of 5 plasma like infusions. Plasma alone gave my body a bad reaction with the first infusion. The next 4 infusion sessions I had I was given albumin, which pretty much does the same job! All of this is precautionary to try to prevent any future rejection problems! I applaud my doctors and nurses for staying on top of everything! Everyone at my transplant hospital has treated me and my family with such good care! My kidney donor is still doing amazing as well! Today is my last infusion session, which is why I’m wearing my “I’m living with a kidney transplant and rocking it” t-shirt ????? Gotta have a few rough days to get to the best days of your life! #healing #kidneytransplant #kidneyrecipient #donatelife #kidneydonor #lupus #lupuswarrior #kidneywarrior #thatkidneygirl #lovelife #smile #rockon #nkfi #nationalkidneyfoundation #advocatechristmedicalcenter #oaklawnillinois #oaklawn #advocatechristhospital

A post shared by Bridgett Kolls (@bridgettttt96) on Aug 3, 2020 at 2:21pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Chicago Cubs Opening day means a lot to me, especially this year. Back in May of 2019, I held up a sign at a Cubs game. I was still on dialysis getting treatment 3 times a week, 4 hours each day, for my failing kidneys to stay afloat. I did not know if my sign would gain attention or not, well it sure worked! July 8th 2020, I finally received my kidney transplant! My donor saw the Cubs tweet a picture of me, and my sign, and responded to it! My donor did all the testing to be my donor, and trust me, it’s a lot of testing for someone to do! My donor is an incredible human being, and words cannot explain how thankful I am for him. I also want to thank my uncle for giving my brother tickets to the game, and thank you to my brother who invited me with him! Most importantly, I am very thankful for the Chicago Cubs, without them sharing my sign on social media, I would not have found my donor, and I would still probably be waiting for a kidney. I am healing well, and I love my Chicago Cubs! Happy opening day @cubs ! I wish I could be there to cheer you all on! Maybe, If I shout loud enough, you all can hear me from my couch! Go Cubs Go!! Hoping for a W! ⚾️❤️?❤️?⚾️ #kidneytransplant #cubs #chicagocubs #kidneywarrior #lupuswarrior #baseball #biggerthanbaseball #thankyou #gocubsgo #nkfi #wrigleyfield #advocatechristmedicalcenter #dialysis #chicagogram #kidneydonor #kidneyrecipient #kidneyhealth #ilovelife #ilovebaseball #happytobealive #baseballisback #advocate #advocateaurora #advocatemedicalgroup

A post shared by Bridgett Kolls (@bridgettttt96) on Jul 24, 2020 at 3:54pm PDT

Tom saw Bridgett’s sign and decided, “I want to help her.” Not only did he help her, he saved her life! Such a selfless act. An incredible human.

If you’ve ever been interested in being a living donor, click here for more information. This is also a great reminder, if you haven’t renewed your drivers license in a while, to check your status. Are you an organ donor? If not, click here if you’d like to become one. YOU could save someone’s life!