It started with a simple Facebook post, but for one Virginia woman, it turned into something life-changing.
Debbie Winkfield, who lives in Virginia’s northern Shenandoah Valley, had known for years this day might come. Kidney disease runs in her family, and about two decades ago, she learned she would eventually need a transplant. Last spring, that moment arrived, and she decided to reach out in a very personal way — creating a small Facebook group of just 19 people and asking if anyone might be willing to help.
She didn’t know what to expect. But behind the scenes, someone saw that post and felt compelled to act. At first, Debbie was told only that a donor had come forward — no name, no details. Then came the surprise. It was Lora Booher, a Navy friend she hadn’t seen in 40 years.
The two had served together back in the 1980s, among the first women assigned to a Navy ship. They were close once, but like so many friendships, life took them in different directions. It wasn’t until they reconnected on Facebook that their paths crossed again — just in time for Lora to see Debbie’s message and feel, almost instantly, that she was meant to help.
After testing confirmed she was a match, the two women reunited in person in D.C. the night before surgery, picking up right where they left off. And not long after reconnecting, Lora gave Debbie the ultimate gift — a kidney, and with it, a second chance at life.
Today, both women are doing well and sharing their story during Donate Life Month, hoping it inspires others to consider becoming donors. Because sometimes, a simple message doesn’t just reconnect old friends — it can save a life.