rather lose a kidney than my cousin
Meet Kelly Geiger Duncan
Kelly is a 32-year old wife, and mother of young twins, living in Monroe Township, NJ. A lover of the arts, Kelly is a gifted artist in her own right who loves to draw and paint. Kelly works in a special needs classroom, a job which requires an extraordinary kind of selflessness. But the full, generous life that Kelly has lived has taken a turn.
When Kelly was 12 years old, she was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy , a/k/a Berger’s disease. IgA is an antibody that helps the body fight infections. Kelly's parents were told she would eventually need a kidney transplant, because the IgA would cause the kidneys to no longer be able to perform their vital function of filtering waste products from her bloodstream. In some patients, IgA levels subside (through the use of drugs, or sometimes just on its own), and those patients live with normal unimpeded kidney fucntion. This was not Kelly's fate.
Three years ago, Kelly's doctors advised her to 'start asking around for potential donors to be tested'. The IgA was relentless and her kidneys were in decline. The search for a donor was on. But no one was prepared for the roller coaster ride this process would bring to Kelly and her family. Donors have to be 100% healthy in every way; one tiny risk in the eyes of her doctors, and a donor is rejected. One after another, over those three years, each donor was turned away. Kelly’s prognosis grew severe.
Then, after the pendulum between hope and despair seemed neverending, a ray of light:
Meet Samantha Majewski a/k/a Sam.
20 year-old Sam, from East Brunswick, NJ, is a full-time student at the University of South Florida majoring in Sports Broadcasting (look out, Erin Andrews!) Sam is also Kelly’s cousin, but to Sam, Kelly is more like a big sister. 
They basically grew up together, as the cousins’ families relied on each other for childcare, a joint landscaping business, and Friday family night card games.
Sam has watched the decline in her cousin's health and hope as each new donor has been turned away. She knew that Kelly’s most optimistic option had become dialysis - just to keep her alive. Losing her beloved cousin Kelly - or even watch her suffer any longer - is not an option. You see, Sam is no stranger to loss, as her dad’s life was taken too soon by pancreatic cancer. 
Sam and her dad, 2007
In Sam's short 20 years, she had seen enough. Over Christmas holiday 2014, she stepped up and offered to be tested as a potential donor for Kelly. Off they went to RJW Kidney Transplant Center to be tested.
Sam was a perfect match.
But before Sam continued with further (required, frequent, and meticulous ) testing, a loved one reinforced the fact that she did not have to do this, that it's very scary, and the family would understand if she changes her mind. Sam’s response (without missing a beat):
"I would rather lose a kidney than my cousin."
With that, testing resumed, which included several flights back and forth between Florida and New Jersey. Each new test brought more anxiety. Would this test be ok? Would Sam eventually be rejected as a candidate?
Wait. Wonder. Worry.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Well, the date for surgery has finally been scheduled. Thanks to Sam, Kelly is getting a healthy kidney. 
The mom of three year-old Ryden and Jakob will be undergoing the kidney transplant on June 16th.
That’s the good news.
In other news, Sam's selfless bravery will delay her education track and career goals. Sam’s health will have to be closely monitored. Sam's immediate future is completely unknown. Yet Sam is asking for NOTHING in return.
It’s Kelly who needs our help .
Due to the severity of Kelly's illness, her doctor does not want to use generic meds. Although Kelly does have medical insurance, the co-payments for the drugs will be staggering. She will be required to take approximately 40 pills a day for 6 months with continued treatment after that. There will be doctor visits, surgery, and follow-up treatments. 
This fund has been created to help defray Kelly's medical bills so her family can focus on healing without the worries of a huge financial burden.
Sam has stepped up like a boss. Please follow her lead to help Kelly. Reach out in any way that you can: thoughts; prayers; a comment; a share; a donation - or all four.
Everything helps, and the Majewski – Geiger family is immensely grateful!
PS -- The family's sense of humor is getting them through this as they are telling kidney jokes (who knew?) and Sam is planning the tattoo where her kidney used to be (and yes, it will be a picture of a kidney). 
Sam and Kelly
