a GRAND Gesture

by George Diaz

In the United States, there are an estimated 90,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant. But there is one less person in need today because of the sacrifice of Victoria “Tori” Myers.

Tori, a 30-year-old resident of Geneva, donated one of her kidneys to her young son’s babysitter in 2023. And this fall, Tori participated in a 21-mile hike at the Grand Canyon National Park, to help raise awareness about the critical need for living kidney donors.

A Friend in Need 

Tori and her kidney recipient, 21-year-old Catherine “Cat” Rivera, came into each other’s lives under ordinary circumstances. In 2021, Cat began babysitting Tori’s five-month-old son Colton.

Cat, who lives in Winter Springs, and Tori also have a deeper connection – faith. Tori and her husband Riley are members of the local church where Cat’s father Eddie is a pastor.

When Tori and Catherine met, Cat was already facing the prospect of kidney failure. As a toddler, she had been diagnosed with lupus, and the chemotherapy treatments had ravaged her kidneys. 

Without telling anyone, Tori signed up to be a kidney donor in August 2022, specifically listing Cat as a potential recipient. In February 2023, Tori learned she and Cat were a perfect match. By that time, the proverbial clock was ticking for Cat because her body was shutting down. She needed full overnight dialysis and had dropped to 100 pounds. 

Tori also believes in serendipity. She and Catherine share 11/11 birthdays, as does Cat’s mother Nelsa.

“That was a sign I needed to be doing this,” says Tori.

For Tori, the most difficult part of the process was convincing her husband and Cat’s father that donating a kidney wasn’t a foolhardy thing for a working mother of two young children to do. In addition to being a wife and mom, Tori is a busy real      estate agent.

Riley leaned on his faith, as did Tori. Eddie needed more reassurance, however. He tried to talk Tori out of making such a big sacrifice, but she stood firm. 

“I feel the call to save your daughter’s life,” she told him.

Finally, at a dinner one evening, both families embraced Tori’s decision and began moving forward. 

The procedure, which took place on July 19, 2023, at AdventHealth Orlando, went splendidly. Within 10 days, Tori was on a road trip to Sarasota with son Colton and stepdaughter Missy (now ages four and nine, respectively). As for Cat, her gratitude is immeasurable. 

“I have my life back,” says Cat, who is now back to babysitting Colton several times a week. “Because of Tori’s selflessness, I now have the opportunity to live, to breathe, and to continue being present with my family and loved ones.”

One Step at a Time

In October, Tori took her kidney donation experience even further by participating in the Grand Canyon hike with Kidney Donor Athletes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the gift of life through living kidney donations among active individuals and athletes. The need is real – there is a national average of 13 deaths per day of people waiting for a kidney transplant. 

A former lacrosse player and coach, Tori felt up to the hiking challenge because she maintains an active lifestyle that includes horseback riding. She hiked with 15 other One Kidney Climb participants, traversing the south rim to the north rim of the Grand Canyon in one day. 

“Being in that environment, raising awareness, and understanding others’ perspectives was a great experience,” says Tori, who plans to continue representing Kidney Donor Athletes. “It brought home the purpose of why we donated and why we are doing this.”

Toward the end of the hike, in the darkness, Tori sat down for a moment of solitude and turned her headlamp off. She had taken 60,961 steps that day, stretching more than 21 miles. 

“It was just me in the dark on that canyon wall,” says Tori. “I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”

For Catherine, Tori’s sacrifice came at just the right moment, giving her a rejuvenating gift of life.

“What Tori has done is beyond measure,” says Cat. “I am forever grateful for her courage, her heart, and her friendship. Tori is truly my hero – our hero – and I will never stop thanking God for her.”