Great teachers are more than just great educators. They are also child psychologists, trained in the school of life, with their fingers on the pulse of their students’ emotions.

Put another way, teachers always seem to know when something is going on at home.

Sometimes a teacher is the first one to have a feeling that a child is being mistreated. Other times, he or she “just knows” that the child is dealing with a deep sadness and needs a little extra help.

Teachers may not always be able to help directly, but, they usually try to do what they can!

Well, today, I want to tell you a story about a hero teacher who went well above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to helping one of her students and his family.

4th Grade Teacher, Donna Hoagland, Just Knew Something Was Wrong

Donna’s story began when she noticed that one of her students, Troy Volk, was acting a little detached. He just seem to be his normal self.

So, like any good teacher, she took the initiative and gave Troy’s mom a call. What she found out shocked and saddened her.

Troy’s mom, Anahita, explained that, for the last year, she had been suffering from stage 5 kidney failure. Worse, due to her rare blood type, the chances of finding a donor were slim.

Then a Miracle Happened…

Doing some research, Donna discovered that she had the same rare blood type as Troy’s mom. Setting aside any personal discomfort that she might feel, she made a decision… she would offer to donate her kidney.

She just couldn’t sit by and watch Troy, Anahita and their family suffer. As she said in an interview with CBS News,

“To think what he must go through seeing his mom being sick all the time, it’s not fair.”

The Operation Went Well

The operation was performed over Christmas and, according to CBS News, both Donna and Anahita are doing well.

Of course, you don’t need to donate your kidney to be an amazing teacher. Still, it warms your heart to know that there are people out there who will go beyond the call of duty to save lives.

Let’s all send out positive thoughts and prayers to Donna, Anahita and Troy today. I wish with all of my heart that they experience a full recovery.

Has anyone ever done something unexpected to help your family during a difficult time? Why do you think some people are more likely than others to help in an emergency, even at the risk of their own safety or comfort? Let’s have a chat! 

Photos: CBS NEWS