Sandie Andersen

"I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives."

Tracy Chapman

Sandie Andersen works at a Starbucks in Tacoma, Washington. This fifty plus year old barista is known for her serving friendly small talk to her customers along with their tall mocha lattes and chai teas.

One morning, one of Sandie's regular customers stopped in for her daily dose of caffeine and conversation.  But that day customer Annamarie Ausnes seemed quieter than usual when she ordered her usual "short drip, double cupped" java jolt.  The barista picked up on this immediately and asked if something was wrong.  The two women had known each other casually for the three years that Annamarie had been stopping by this Starbucks.  But during their morning small-talk sessions, Annamarie had never mentioned the kidney disease that she had been dealing with for nearly twenty years.  Her disorder causes comlications that lead to eventual kidney failure.  Annamarie's health had suddenly begun to decline, and she had just learned that her only option was a transplant.  Since her husband and son weren't matches, she was facing a long wait on the transplant list.

When Annamarie told her the sad news, Sandie's response was instantaneous.  "I'm going to get tested," she said.  And get tested she did.  Not only did her blood type match, but so did the results of all the other tests.  Sandie's kidney could indeed be a match for Annamarie.

After the successful surgery, both women are doing fine.  Annamarie says she found her guardian angel in this casual acquaintance.  "We had a friendship, but now that I have a part of Sandie, I'm family."

And Sandie, who had previously done missionary work in Mexico and hurricane relief work in New Orleans, said her kidney donation should not be viewed as heroic.  People should give freely of themselves, and more of them do than get noticed.  As for losing her kidney, Sandie said, "I just felt in my heart it was the right thing to do."

How better to scatter joy than by giving the gift of life to another!