“She ended up being my little student who becomes special, a good friend, not a teacher’s pet, although she is a teacher’s pet now,” laughed Paquin, 60.

The Paquins and Collins have been close, living in the same neighborhood and socializing together.

Collins is president of the Elwood Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the St. Vincent Mercy Hospital Foundation.

Paquin, who taught English for 32 years, has had two heart transplants. The last one in 1999 put a stress on her kidneys due to immunosuppressants and catheters, she said.

Doctors tested Paquin’s son and daughter, but they were unable to be donors.

Paquin said, “So Angie said to me, ‘If your kids are unable to do this, I want to be tested. I want to do this for you.’”

“They went on and tested her and she was a match.”

Kidneys are more in demand than any other organ, noted Sam Davis, director of professional services for the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization.

“Unfortunately it’s a reflection of public health,” Davis said.

Kidneys are damaged by people who have uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes and high blood pressure, he said.

By the time they see an internist, dialysis can only help to a certain degree. That leaves a transplant as often the best option, he said.

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Patients awaiting transplants

(nationally and statewide)

Heart: National: 2,658 State: 32