Two women celebrate anniversary of life-saving kidney donation after parking lot meeting

HUDSON, Mass — To celebrate one year since Gail Weisberg received a new kidney from Debbie Munley, the two met up at Finnegan’s Pub in Hudson for food and drinks. A celebration that never would have happened if Debbie didn’t spot Gail’s car in a Target parking lot with a sign reading, she needed a kidney.

“Had it been parked somewhere else I may have never had seen it, but I looked at it and said that I want to do this. I want to see if I can help someone,” says Debbie Munley, the kidney donor.

Turned out she was a match.

“For me to be able to be a match to her was pretty fantastic,” says Munley.

“She saved my life. I can’t thank her enough she is my angel,” says Gail Weisberg, the donor recipient. “My family and myself we were like hallelujah we couldn’t believe it, the hospital couldn’t believe it.”

But right before the surgery, doctors discovered Munley had a medical condition so the kidney transplant for Weisberg didn’t go through.

“It really puts you into a mental spin. It is not a happy time,” says Weisberg.

Months later, doctors cleared Munley for the kidney transplant, giving Weisberg a second chance at life. Today she spends her time trying to help others get the same life-changing opportunity.

Now that Gail has a kidney, she drives around with a sign on her car to help others in need also get kidneys.

“I got to pay it forward,” says Weisberg.

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