Barista Gives A Veteran the Chance to See His Children Grow Up

An act of kindness goes a long way

Why do good people get sick? Why do people die?

All of us will face death, but some will have an extended lease on life, death will have to come back much later.

Stories of kindness make us believe in humanity, especially during times when we ask ourselves why there is so much fear and anger in the world.

A veteran never had a clue that on that day he got his coffee, his prayers would be answered.

It all started with a cup of coffee

Every day on his way to his office, Vince Villano, a veteran, would pass by his favorite Starbucks and get the same order.

Trenta Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, full pumps.

And that is how Nicole McNeil, a barista at DuPont, Wash., Starbucks knew Vince, the cold brew guy. Except for the daily pleasantries, she doesn’t know anything about his life, nor does he know anything about her life.

But on that fateful day, everything will change.

Before Vince could say his order, Nicole knew exactly what he was about to say,

Trenta Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, full pumps.

But she noticed something else, Vince looked sad.

“What’s going on, Vince?” she said.

Surprised, Vince deflected it by saying, “it’s a long story,” but somehow the Universe or God had other plans, for that day, was the beginning of their lifelong friendship.

Nicole asked Vince to wait for her to finish her shift so they could talk before she picks up her kids.

The Universe conspired, and Nicole then learned that Vince would soon have to begin regular dialysis treatments.

Vince has Polycystic Kidney Disease, soon it will lead to kidney failure thus the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

He added that in his family, each generation would have a family member die of the disease.

At 30, he was diagnosed but his condition progressed to the point that he would soon need to undergo dialysis, as the toxins in his body can no longer be handled by his sick kidneys.

Vince thought of his conversation with Nicole as the start of their friendship and nothing more.

However, as soon as Nicole got home, she told her husband Justin McNeil, who was also a veteran, Vince’s story.

The last thing Justin told Nicole surprised her.

“I have a kidney. He can have mine.”

Friends

Soon the McNeil family started inviting Vince into their home, sharing holidays. They bonded and formed a friendship.

While Justin’s offer was a welcome surprise to Vince, the shot of them being a match is unlikely, and yet the biggest surprise would come before Christmas.

Vince and Justin have the same blood type and the test results showed they are a match.

Then on December 26, 2018, the day after Christmas, Justin McNeil’s 36th birthday, Vince got his kidney transplant, all because of Justin’s generosity and the kindness of one barista.

With Justin’s gift to Vince, his nephrologist Dr. Raguram said in the interview that his new kidneys have at least added 20 years to his life.

“It’s truly the gift of life — of a second life.” — Dr. Raguram said.

More years for Vince to spend with his children and see them until they are all grown up.

Takeaway

We are all connected. Today the world is at war, people are dying, and their pain is ours too.

We can offer prayers but we can also offer kindness to strangers.

Thank you for reading.

Source: ‘A cup of coffee, a life saved: Barista’s Army vet husband to give customer kidney’

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