Episode 2

full
Published on:

15th May 2025

Young Widower Saves the Life of New Wife’s College Roommate

They were both widowed young, left to raise children alone, carry the weight of grief, and somehow start again. But through love and one selfless act, a butterfly effect of friendship and connection reshaped three families forever.

This friendship podcast and organ transplant story explores how kidney donation, grief recovery, and resilience brought people together in ways no one could predict. Through heartfelt conversations, host Daryn Kagan shares how Kim and Steve—both widowed young, navigating grief recovery as single parents—found love again after tragedy and built a new blended family rooted in connection.

Just as they were finding their rhythm, a letter arrived from Kim’s longtime Stanford friend Melinda, who was facing polycystic kidney disease and urgently needed a live donor transplant. Kim was ready to step forward, but in a twist that deepened their bond, it was Steve—her new husband—who turned out to be the perfect match. His decision to donate a kidney didn’t just save Melinda’s life, it gave her children more time with their mom and forever connected three families in gratitude.

In this friendship podcast episode, you’ll hear the real-life story of resilience, love, and the ripple effect of kindness. These powerful conversations show how true friendship often shows up in surprising, life-changing ways. At its heart, this is a story about connection—between college friends, between grieving families, and between strangers who became chosen family through an act of radical generosity

In This Episode You Will Learn

  • How a college friendship, a heartfelt letter, and a selfless act led to a life-saving kidney transplant
  • Why Steve, a widower and father, chose to donate his kidney to his wife’s best friend
  • The emotional journey of navigating grief, single parenting, and new beginnings
  • How love, loss, and legacy shaped a blended family bonded by gratitude
  • What it's like to ask for a live organ donor and the unexpected way help arrived
  • Why true friendship often shows up in the most surprising and life-changing ways
  • The ripple effect of compassion: how one act of generosity transformed three families
  • Insights into polycystic kidney disease, post-traumatic growth, and chosen family

Whether you are interested in stories of medical miracles, inspired by real life heroes, or navigating blended families after loss, this powerful conversation will stay with you long after it ends. It is proof that one act of compassion can echo for generations.

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TIMESTAMPS:

  • (00:00) Steve reflects on why he volunteered for a kidney donation that changed three families
  • (01:20) Daryn sets the stage for this friendship podcast with a college reunion story
  • (03:30) Introducing Melinda and her Stanford connection in this organ transplant story
  • (05:21) Melinda opens up about her polycystic kidney disease diagnosis
  • (07:12) Writing the letter to ask for a live kidney donor
  • (09:30) Kim receives the letter and begins her journey of grief recovery and helping a friend
  • (10:54) Kim and Melinda’s college roommate connection
  • (13:00) Kim’s story of loss, single parenting, and building a blended family
  • (15:06) Steve’s journey through grief after losing his first wife
  • (17:00) How Steve and Kim met and became part of this real life heroes story
  • (22:00) Deciding together who will be the kidney donor for Melinda
  • (24:45) Friendly competition: whose kidney is the best match
  • (26:30) The emotional night before the live organ transplant
  • (28:00) Post-op transformation: Melinda’s recovery and new life after kidney donation
  • (30:44) How do you say thank you for a kidney and a second chance at life
  • (34:00) Post-traumatic growth, chosen families, and the ripple effect of compassion
  • (39:38) Phone a Friend: Kimshi

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • True friendship is showing up especially when it’s inconvenient, complicated, or uncertain.
  • Live organ donation is an act of radical generosity with long-lasting impact.
  • Shared grief and resilience can create unbreakable bonds between friends and families.
  • There’s power in asking for help and in the beautiful surprises that follow when we do.

RESOURCE LINKS:

GUEST BIOS

Melinda Myers Cook – A Stanford alum and longtime community volunteer, Melinda faced a life-threatening illness with grace, courage, and a rare gift for friendship. Her story is one of vulnerability, resilience, and hope.

Kim Laughton – A lifelong friend of Melinda and fellow Stanford grad, Kim faced her own deep loss as a widow and single mother. Her decision to step forward in Melinda’s time of need is a reflection of the heart she brings to every relationship.

Steve Maupin– Kim’s husband and kidney donor to Melinda. After losing his first wife to cancer, Steve’s act of donating a kidney is a powerful example of compassion, perspective, and purpose-driven living.

TAGS:

Kidney Donation, Organ Transplant Story, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Live Donor Transplant, Stanford Alumni, Grief Recovery, Friendship Podcast, Blended Families, Medical Miracles, Call Me Friend Podcast, Daryn Kagan, Inspirational Podcast, Resilience, Emotional Healing, Real Life Heroes

Transcript

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About the Podcast

Call Me Friend
Who do you call when life gets real? When the good news hits, the heartbreak lands, or you're just having one of those days—you call a friend. That’s the heartbeat of Call Me Friend—a feel good biweekly podcast that drops you into the kind of conversations that remind us who we are, where we belong, and why friendship matters.

Hosted by former network news anchor, wife, mom, and Airbnb host Daryn Kagan, Call Me Friend is your weekly reminder of the joy, laughter, and healing that come with connection. Each week, Daryn picks up the phone from Ms. Lou’s Cabin—a 50-year-old log home she and her husband lovingly restored and turned into an Airbnb—to chat with someone in her world, whether it’s a celebrity, her childhood bestie, or someone she just met along the way or maybe even YOU. No matter who she’s calling, the focus is always the same: celebrating the power of friendship and connection.

Every episode kicks off with a ring-ring and drops you into a real-life conversations between friends. These aren’t interviews with hot takes or polished soundbites—just raw, funny, heartfelt, deeply human chats between people who genuinely know and care about each other. From lifelong friendships to surprise connections, everyday legends to familiar names, Call Me Friend is a front-row seat to how beautiful, messy, and meaningful friendships can be.

This show is for anyone craving more depth, more heart, and more of the good stuff that makes life not just bearable—but beautiful. It’s a cozy corner of the podcast world where emotional wellness, storytelling, and humor live in harmony. Whether you’re looking for comfort, relatable stories, or a pick-me-up on a hard day, this podcast is for you, yes YOU. Expect wild stories, sweet memories, laugh-out-loud moments, and those quiet “Yeah… me too” pauses that make you feel truly seen.

Fun segments like “You Gotta Meet My Friend” spotlight special guests introducing someone they love, while “Call Me, Friend” invites listeners to write in with questions and stories. And the “Friend Questionnaire” keeps things surprising, uncovering the quirks and connections that make every friendship unique.

What makes Call Me Friend stand out? This show isn’t about networking or hustle. It’s not self-help. It’s heart-help. Because friendship isn’t just background noise—it’s the main character. If you’ve ever found joy, comfort, or healing through a friend—or just needed someone to say, “I get it”—this is your space.

Call Me Friend is more than a podcast. It’s a weekly call you can count on. A soft place to land. A reminder that even when life feels messy, everything gets better when you talk to a friend. If you love heartfelt conversations, personal stories, and a little laughter with your life lessons, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

So whether you're commuting, folding laundry, walking the dog, or just trying to quiet your mind—remember this: you’re not alone. Someone out there gets it. Someone out there would totally take your call.

Go ahead, pick up the phone.
Let’s laugh. Let’s cry. Let’s Call a Friend.

About the Host:

Daryn Kagan is a former CNN anchor turned full-time storyteller. After leaving the fast-paced world of network news, she built a life rooted in purpose, connection, and authenticity. Now living on the quiet Georgia coast, Daryn records Call Me Friend from Ms. Lou’s Cabin, a restored 50-year-old log home turned Airbnb. From there she runs the nationwide Just One More Foundation giving grants for second chances. A wife, mom, dog mama, and connection junkie, Daryn’s superpower is bringing people together—and her gift for real conversation is what makes this podcast feel like catching up with your favorite friend.

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