Police Officer Donates Kidney To Stranger, A Navy Veteran

DES PLAINES, IL - Officer Nicole Gaborek of the Lakemoor Police Department is living proof that there is still plenty of good in the world. Gaborek, a former member of the Des Plaines Police Explorer Post #142, recently donated one of her kidneys to a complete stranger after reading her desperate plea for help in an online article posted to Facebook.

“I think law enforcement is really important to helping people. That’s something I have strived to do my whole life," Gaborek said. "I just read through the article and filled out the questionnaire. I knew that I was the same blood type. Weirdly, I think after the first blood work came back and maybe the DNA test, I just new that I was going to be donating this kidney."

Gaborek's kidney ultimately went to 31-year-old Rachel Schultz of Harvard. Schultz, a life-long Illinois resident, spent six years in the U.S. Navy before pursuing a college degree and then returning home.

“Right about that time when I came back, that’s when I started having problems," Schultz said.

After serving her country, Schultz received a diagnosis of late stage 3 kidney disease. She would need a transplant to save her life. Eager for a kidney, Schultz passed out fliers in hopes of finding a donor. She also wrote to a radio station in Rockford in July 2019 in an attempt to get her story out over the airwaves or on the station's website.

“I asked would you be willing to put the story out on Facebook, on the website and one of there sister stations, 95.3 The Bull, sent it out on their website and I came to find out later that’s how my donor found it," Schultz explained.

After learning Gaborek was willing to donate one of her kidneys to her, Schultz was over-the-moon happy but also amazed, she said, that someone who didn't even know her would voluntarily give her a second chance at a normal life.

“When I was meeting Nicole for the first time, I was telling myself that I’m not going to cry. But it’s just kind of overwhelming," Schultz said. "Someone you don’t even know and they’re just going to donate their kidney to you, it’s just completely mind boggling but awesome at the same time."

Schultz's kidney transplant surgery took place at Rush University Medical Center on Dec. 4 and went extremely well. Schultz's donor, Gaborek, was able to go home the next day.

"I felt fine. It’s been over a week later, and I feel like nothing happened. It was so easy," Gaborek said. "I wish more people did it to be honest."

Schultz is now enjoying her new lease on life, and one that no longer involves frequent dialysis trips.

"I’m doing pretty good. The doctors are super pleased. Everything so far is amazing," Schultz said.

Gaborek and Schultz hope that their stories inspire others to donate to those medically in need.

"I hope in the very least, I inspire other people to donate blood or platelets or plasma or have your donor card on your driver’s license," Gaborek said. "Put yourself on the bone marrow registry or even donate a kidney."