Last month, Katelyn Vande Hoef, a mother of seven and daughter of longtime Edgerton residents, became a kidney donor to her daughter’s teacher —an act of generosity sparked by a chance hallway conversation and guided by faith.

Katelyn, whose parents are Kathy and Pat Baker of Edgerton, learned early in the school year that Sarita Rivera, her daughter’s first-grade teacher at Lake Carolina Elementary School in Blythewood, South Carolina, was in need of a kidney transplant. Rivera was suffering from kidney failure caused by polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition that had advanced unexpectedly early, requiring her to begin dialysis on Christmas Day 2023.

“I learned Ms. Rivera needed a transplant more so in passing,” Katelyn said. “She briefly mentioned to me that she was waiting for a kidney, which is why she was occasionally out from school.”

Although she barely knew Sarita at the time, Katelyn felt a strong personal and spiritual pull to help. 

“I have some people close to me that struggle with significant health issues,” she said. “It’s so hard to watch.  Good health is not to be taken for granted.”

But that wasn’t the only reason she decided to donate an organ.

“The biggest reason is God,” she added. “The moment Ms. Rivera mentioned that she was waiting for a kidney, I felt that God placed it in my heart to donate to her.”