Nonprofit teams up with the Hawks to give metro Atlanta kids the gift of clear eyesight

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Monique John

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    ATALNTA, Georgia (WUPA) — Maxwell Mills says he knew something was wrong with his eyesight when it started interfering with his ability to read and get his work done in school.

“It was just really difficult and kind of irritating to me because I like to do math equations,” Mills said. “And I like reading, and when I tried to read a book, it was very blurry…”

That’s why a group of organizations stepped in to help. The nonprofit Vision to Learn is leading an effort alongside the Atlanta Hawks to donate thousands of free glasses and eye exams at schools and libraries in the metro in what’s called the Atlanta Vision Project.

The nonprofit said that in Georgia alone, it has given away 50,000 pairs of glasses to children in need over the past eight years to help fight illiteracy and poor academic performance. Its goal is to give away another 50,000 pairs to kids around Atlanta over the next three years.

Mills received a free eye exam and one of these glasses alongside more than 100 other children at his school, Fairburn’s E.C. West Elementary School in March.

“If kids can’t read by third grade, they’re not at grade-level reading,” Ann Holister, the president of Vision to Learn, said. “Studies show that they’re four times as likely to drop out of high school. So, this is an intervention that’s proven to work.”

Now that he’s seeing things clearly, Maxwell says he’s gotten back to enjoying his favorite graphic novels and chapter books. He even says he likes to brag about his glasses during recess.

“When I win a game, they’re like ‘How did you win so fast?'” Mills said. “It’s because I can see.”

Maxwell’s dad says they are thankful for the program.

“With everything rising, inflation, it just, that’s one less thing to burden me and my wife as parents, to worry about glasses, because glasses are expensive,” Michael Mills said.

Maxwell says his new glasses have boosted his confidence through making it easier to check his work.

He sees himself differently and more clearly, too.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Leflore County Sheriff identifies deputy killed in eastern Oklahoma ambush

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Addison Kliewer

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    Oklahoma (KOCO) — A deputy killed in an eastern Oklahoma ambush was identified on Monday.

The LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Deputy Thomas “Walker” LeMay died on Sunday while conducting a welfare check at a home along U.S. Highway 720 near Wister. An officer with the Wister Police Department was also injured in the shooting.

OSBI officials said someone opened fire on law enforcement, and officers returned fire. The gunfight lasted for hours before the suspect finally surrendered around 4 p.m. Sunday.

LeMay was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The police officer was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Edgar Lara, was treated for minor injuries and booked into the LeFlore County Jail.

LeMay was a father to “his most precious baby girl,” according to the sheriff’s office.

LeMay’s patrol vehicle was placed on the front lawn of the LeFlore County courthouse for anyone wishing to honor him with decorations.

“During this horrendous incident, this office has been shown great love, support, and deep appreciation from our community, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and citizens as a whole. Your prayers, kind words, and acts of service have not gone unnoticed, and we are truly grateful during this difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said. “We ask that you continue to keep Deputy LeMay’s family, friends, and brothers and sisters in blue in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate the days ahead. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and his legacy of service and dedication will live on through all of us.”

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Warsh Defends Fed Independence, Signals Overhaul in Confirmation Hearing

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Juliegrace Brufke | Quincy News Correspondent

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    Washington (Quincy News) — WASHINGTON – Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, testified before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, defending his independence from the White House and calling for sweeping changes to how the central bank operates.

Warsh argued the Fed’s slow response to inflation in recent years was a serious policy failure and said he would pursue what he called a “regime change” if confirmed, including a new inflation framework and changes to the Fed’s communication practices. He would not guarantee the current eight annual meetings would continue and declined to commit to holding a press conference after each one.

“Right now, Fed chairs and other central bankers around the FOMC, they speak quite frequently. There was no lack of transparency. But I would say this, I think truth seeking is more important than repetition,” Warsh told lawmakers. “If a press conference were held, I think it would be incumbent to hear what the reporters of the day had in mind.”

Democrats on the committee pressed Warsh repeatedly on whether he could remain independent from a president who has publicly demanded rates as low as 1% and encouraged a Justice Department investigation of sitting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over cost overruns on a building renovation. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Warsh that Trump wants the Federal Reserve to artificially boost the economy for political reasons and questioned whether any nominee could withstand that pressure.

The sharpest exchange centered on reports that Trump privately told Warsh he wanted interest rates cut before his confirmation, which Warsh denied.

“The president never asked me to predetermine, commit, fix, decide on any interest rate decision in any of our discussions, nor would I ever agree to do so,” he told the committee.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told Quincy News the conflicting accounts put the Fed’s credibility at risk regardless.

“We have to protect the independence of the Federal Reserve,” he said. “It threatens me that we have public reporting that the president told Kevin Warsh he wanted to see interest rates cut, and that Kevin Warsh under oath said that did not occur. So someone is lying right now. Either Kevin Warsh just lied under oath or the president is lying. Either way, it doesn’t help build the credibility of the Federal Reserve.”

The hearing comes one week before the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets April 28-29, and Powell’s press conference on April 29 is expected to be his last as Fed chair. Powell has said he would remain in place on a temporary basis if needed.

While Republicans are broadly expected to support Warsh in a confirmation vote, he faces some hurdles along the way.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has said he does not want to see a vote until the Justice Department drops its criminal probe against Powell, an investigation ostensibly over cost overruns on the Fed’s headquarters renovation that a federal judge has already moved to block.

Tillis made clear his objection is not with Warsh personally, telling the nominee, “Let’s get rid of this investigation, so I can support your confirmation.”

With Republicans holding only a 12-10 majority on the Banking Committee, Tillis has enough leverage to stall the nomination before it reaches the full Senate floor.

Other Republicans were unambiguous in their support. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) told Quincy News that he believes Warsh is the right choice.

“Kevin Warsh understands the importance of keeping inflation low and making sure our economy works for working people,” he said. “He is highly qualified for this role and we need to confirm him ASAP.”

Senior sources close to the process tell Quincy News they believe Warsh will ultimately be confirmed despite the obstacles.

Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said she doubts Warsh could quickly move the 12-member FOMC to cut rates, noting that a majority of members remain reluctant to act while inflation remains above the 2% target.

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Cape Cod researcher says newly found 1949 whale recording is critical discovery: “I’m getting goosebumps”

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Jacob Wycoff

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — More than 76 years ago, a research team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was working in the Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda when they lowered a microphone into the ocean. What they recorded that day would sit quietly in storage for decades.

At the time, no one knew exactly what they were hearing. The audio was etched onto a thin plastic disk using equipment originally designed for office dictation, labeled simply “fish noises,” and filed away in the archives.

Dr. Ashley Jester, who oversees these archives now, said the recordings were easy to miss. They were buried in boxes, very nondescript with their labels. Then researchers gave a modern listen to an old mystery. What Jester heard was not fish. It was a humpback whale.

“I hit play on that WAV file and it was goosebumps. The recording starts, and the voice comes on, and he says ‘It’s the 7th of March, 1949, a little note about the hydrophone, and then you hear the plop. And then right there is the song. I’m getting goosebumps right now thinking about it,” Jester said.

Scientists now believe it could be the oldest recorded whale song ever discovered.

Whale recording from 1940s The find is remarkable not only because of its age, but because it offers a rare snapshot of what the ocean may have sounded like in the late 1940s.

Back then, underwater recording required bulky equipment, long cables, and systems researchers often built themselves. Today, that technology can fit in the palm of your hand.

Dr. Laela Sayigh, a marine bioacoustics researcher at Woods Hole, said modern hydrophones can record for days at a time using compact digital devices.

But for scientists, this historic recording may be most valuable for what it does not contain.

“To potentially be able to look at the levels of ambient noise, which almost certainly would be much, much lower. Because now, you can hear shipping traffic, seismic exploration,” Sayigh said.

Why noise pollution matters In other words, the ocean is not as quiet as it once was. That matters because whales and other marine mammals depend on sound the way humans depend on sight.

“Considering noise as a pollutant is something that has only kind of recently gotten a lot of attention, but marine mammals as a group really rely on sound. It’s their essential mode. It’s as important to them as vision is to us,” Sayigh said.

Sound helps whales communicate, navigate, find food, and survive. As human activity increases underwater noise, researchers say those natural behaviors may be changing.

And this discovery may be only the beginning.

“There are 212 discs in the collection. So we probably have at least 200 hours of underwater recording,” Jester said.

Hundreds of hours of forgotten sound may now help scientists better understand how ocean life, and the ocean itself, has changed over time.

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Warmer weather could impact miller moths during migration

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Lauren Lennon

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    DENVER (KMGH) — It’s almost that time for miller moths to return to the Front Range. With unseasonably warm temperatures we have been seeing, there may be some good news for people who dread this time of year.

Horticulture specialist and entomologist at the Colorado State University Extension in Arapahoe County Lisa Mason said if we continue to see warm temperatures, the moths may not hang around the Front Range for too long since they prefer cooler mountain temperatures.

“I’ll be interested to see what miller moths are like this year,” Mason said. “They could potentially, just like, book it, to the mountains if we continue to have warmer temperatures, which, for anyone that thinks miller moths are a nuisance, that that could be a good thing for them.”

She said there are a couple different factors that play into their migration.

“There might not be a lot of food for them along their migration path, so they’re right now on the Eastern plains and in the Midwest, completing their life cycle to adults. Once they become an adult moth, they’re going to migrate to the Rocky Mountains, and during that time, they’re going to stop along the way where there’s food,” Mason said.

The drought might limit food for the moths along their route, according to Mason, so adult moths may focus on irrigated landscapes for flowers.

“There’s probably not going to be a lot of food for them along the way until they get the front to the Colorado Front Range. You know, with our irrigated landscapes, there’s going to be likely more blooming flowers, so they might hang out longer. However, if it’s warm, if it’s really warm and the evening temperatures are really warm, they are not going to want to stick around,” Mason said.

The moths tend to continue their migration when nighttime temperatures are above around 50 degrees, according to Mason.

“If the days are hot, you know, they will continue,” Mason said. “If we see a cooling trend for a while, you know the miller moths there, there’s not going to be a lot of food for them along their migration path, because things have been so unseasonably dry. So, if temperatures cool down, they might hang out in our irrigated landscapes for a little bit longer than normal.”

Mason said we don’t start to see the moths until May, so experts won’t know for sure their pattern for this year until later in the season. She also added that experts won’t know if they will arrive earlier than normal.

Mason noted that for the most part, last year was a below average season for the moths.

If you do see the moths in your home, they are harmless and Mason said there is no need for pest control services.

She said some people resort to vacuuming them or using a bowl of soapy water to put over lights in garages.

You can also minimize outside lighting as they are attracted to things like porch lights.

The moths do serve a purpose, though, as they are good for the environment.

“Miller moths are a generalist pollinator, and so they’re going to visit flowers that they can find if they leave earlier. That’s not going to have a huge impact on our flowers, because there are other generalist pollinators out there. So you know, whether or not they migrate, sooner or later, really won’t have too much of an impact on our plants that are that are pollinated,” Mason said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Colorado wildfires threaten to devastate the state’s long-term water supply and reservoir storage

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Adria Iraheta

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    AURORA, Colorado (KMGH) — Colorado’s drought and repeated high fire danger are raising new concerns about the long-term impact on the state’s water supply. Aurora Water is warning that wildfires could devastate the water supply for years after the flames are out.

Every drop of water matters right now as the Denver metro tries to mitigate the effects of this year’s extremely dry winter across the state. Aurora Water’s reservoir levels are currently sitting at 57%.

“We’re currently in a pretty historic level of drought,” Aurora Water resource specialist Matt Ashley said.

Ashley said he is not just worried about the drought.

“Wildfire really is the number one threat to our watershed health,” Ashley said.

Colorado State University geology professor Ellen Wohl said the problem starts with the leftover ash and sediment after a fire.

Wohl brought up the fact that Coloradans have felt the effects of sediment runoff in the past.

“For example, after the Cameron Peak Fire, the next summer, we had the black hollow debris flow in a tributary, the Poudre [River], and that created extremely high turbidity levels all the way downstream. That’s when Fort Collins had to shut off drinking water intakes for a period of time,” Wohl said.

That sediment can also end up settling into Colorado’s reservoirs.

“You lose a lot of storage capacity,” Ashley said.

It is already happening. The Strontia Springs Reservoir, shared by Aurora and Denver Water, is already 10% full of sediment from past fires. There is an ongoing effort to dredge it up, but the problem remains.

“The worst case scenario is your reservoir fills up with sediment, and you can’t use that reservoir anymore, which is a huge problem because it’s very expensive and takes a lot of time to build a new reservoir,” Ashley said. “We would have to go and build new reservoirs and find new capacity and new places to store that water, and that would just cost money, and basically, at the end of the day, increase your water bill.”

Then there is contamination.

A recent study led by Ben Livneh, president of Western Water Assessment and CU Boulder associate professor of civil engineering, shows these effects stick around way longer than once thought.

“Not just for one year or two years, but sometimes for up to eight years,” Livneh said.

The first-of-its-kind large-scale study of 500+ Western U.S. watersheds found that wildfires can contaminate water with organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment for up to eight years.

While researchers knew fire ash and soil damage affected water quality to some extent, previous studies only examined local impacts rather than regional patterns.

“It dramatically increases the cost of filtering and treating the water,” Wohl added.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Livneh said this could be a chance for municipalities to prepare.

“This can be [through] a number of different infrastructure investments or modifications,” said Livneh.

Aurora Water says its now focusing its efforts on doubling down on fire prevention efforts with partners like the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service.

“Across the board, just a whole lot of collaboration and partnership to prevent these fire issues from happening,” Ashley said.

Ashley said it is also up to everyone across the Front Range to make the most of the water available.

“Definitely make sure to follow those fire restrictions. The fire bans, the fireworks bans, things of that nature,” Ashley said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KMGH’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

California Islamic calligraphy artist preserves ancient tradition during Arab American Heritage Month

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Irene Gonzalez

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    California (KMAX, KOVR) — As Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated, one Northern California artist is keeping the centuries-old tradition of Islamic calligraphy alive, one carefully measured stroke at a time.

Sehar Shahzad is a student calligrapher. Before starting any project, Shahzad said “one of the first things that calligraphers learn is how to cut their pens.”

Her tools must be in pristine condition.

“Your instruments are just as important as anything else in this art,” she said.

Shahzad said that as a young girl growing up in Toronto, she took up Islamic calligraphy while reflecting on her religion.

“It’s not like I’d never seen it before, but it was my first time kind of trying it,” she said. “And there’s no other way to say it except that I just fell in love with it.”

Now married with three children, Islamic calligraphy is very much part of her life.

“I remember thinking that this isn’t something that I just want to learn for fun,” she said. “I really want to be able to master it.”

Shahzad said that every angle and curve follows strict geometric rules and is measured with dots.

“For example, this letter here was just a little bit too long, so we use these nuqtas to help us guide and understand how long that letter should be,” she said.

Like the Arabic language, Islamic calligraphy is read from right to left. Its bold simplicity requires precision and a deep understanding of proportion.

“When you’re creating a composition, it’s not only about the letter itself,” Shahzad said. “It’s about composition as a whole and making sure that everything balances together.”

Even though she’s still mastering her form, Shahzad’s work is featured in the prayer room of a Muslim cemetery in Napa and in the domes of mosques in San Jose, Hayward, and San Francisco.

Still, she considers her work on paper the most special.

“A form of meditation, a form of worship, requires focus, requires discipline, really brings me to a different space,” Shahzad said. “And I think that’s what I love most.”

Proving that in this fast-paced world, this millennia-long tradition is far from disappearing.

Shahzad’s work will be featured at the upcoming Light Upon Light art exhibit at the Tarbiya Institute in Roseville from April 24-26.

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Shreveport Police Department timeline of mass shooting response

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By KTBS News Staff

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    SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) — A mass shooting Sunday morning that left eight children dead is probably one of the most challenging incidents the Shreveport Police Department has ever faced, Police Chief Wayne Smith said during a news conference Monday.

“Will go down in history, be written in the pages of history; it was one of the worst days that could have ever happened,” Smith said.

He provided a detailed timeline of the events from the minute Shreveport police received the first call to just over an hour later when Shamar Elkins, 31, the man police say was responsible for the massacre, was pronounced dead.

Elkins is accused in the deaths of seven siblings and a cousin: Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5.

“Within the immediate short period, after the first call came into SPD, our resources were deployed. At the same time, we were working five different crime scenes,” Smith said.

Here’s a look:

5:55 a.m. – First call to SPD from West 79th Street

Just before 6 a.m., around 5:56, officers received the first call about a disturbance in the 300 block of West 79th Street. The caller told dispatch she was on top of the house, said the suspect was inside, and reported that a man had been shot.

5:59 a.m. – More calls

Only three minutes later, another call came in — this time revealing that the suspect was a relative of the caller. As the information continued, dispatch learned that about nine people lived in the home. The caller said the suspect, later identified as Shamar Elkins, had shot everyone inside around 6 a.m. Moments after that, she told dispatch that she and her children had climbed down from the roof and were now hiding in the backyard.

6:01 a.m. – Police arrive at West 79th Street scene

Police arrived on scene at 6:01 a.m. Within minutes, officers made contact with the caller and asked the Shreveport Fire Department to stage nearby, close to Linwood Avenue.

6:07 a.m. – Harrison Street shooting reported

Then, just after 6:07 a.m., dispatch received another alarming call — this one from the 500 block of Harrison Street. The caller said her boyfriend had shot her, taken her three children, and fled the scene.

Investigators later confirmed the Harrison Street shooting and the West 79th Street shooting were connected and that everyone involved was related.

6:15 a.m. – Red Kia stolen

At 6:15 a.m., officers were told the suspect had carjacked a red Kia Sportage near West 79th Street, close to Linwood. Two minutes later, traffic units on routine patrol spotted that vehicle heading south on Interstate 49.

6:18 a.m. – Police chase into Bossier City

By 6:18 a.m., officers said the vehicle had crossed the Red River Bridge into Bossier City. Around that same time, police were warned that the children taken from Harrison Street might be inside the car.

6:23 a.m. – Elkins enters subdivision

The vehicle exited the interstate near the Swan Lake area around 6:23 a.m. shortly after, officers located the injured victims from the Harrison Street shooting at approximately 6:25 a.m.

6:29 a.m. – Gunfire exchanged

At 6:29 a.m., officers made contact with the suspect, and an exchange of gunfire followed. By 6:30 a.m., police confirmed they were engaged with the suspect in the 400 block of Brompton Lane.

About 10 minutes later, officers reported the suspect’s vehicle was empty, and no children were found inside.

6:43 a.m. – Multiple victims found at West 79th scene

Back in Shreveport, officers cleared the home on West 79th Street at 6:43 a.m., where they found multiple dead victims.

7:03 a.m. – Elkins pronounced dead

Just after 7 a.m., at 7:03, Shamar Elkins was pronounced dead at the scene on Brompton Lane.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Michigan man brings cross to Shreveport in response to tragic killings

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Shannon Brinias

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    SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) — The devastating news that broke early Sunday about the murders of eight children has reverberated across the nation, prompting grief, reflection, and calls for healing.

For one Michigan man, the tragedy sparked action. Dan Beazley, who lives near Detroit, set out on a multi-state journey to Shreveport, carrying what he sees as a universal symbol of hope: a large wooden cross.

Beazley says his mission began several years ago in his home state, when he delivered the cross to the site of a school shooting. What started as a single act of compassion soon grew into a broader calling.

Now, whenever he feels compelled, Beazley travels to communities affected by violence or natural disasters, placing the cross where people can gather, pray and seek comfort.

“Jesus himself traveled days across the seas just to take a demon out of one man,” Beazley said. “So for me to travel from Michigan to Shreveport — if it can bring peace and calm and healing to just one person in this community — then it was well worth it.”

Over time, Beazley has logged hundreds of miles responding to tragedies across multiple states. He says the emotional weight of these journeys has never discouraged him from what he believes is his purpose: Doing God’s work and offering solace in moments of profound loss.

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Virginia woman receives kidney from surprise Facebook donor 40 years after they met

CNN Newsource on April 22, 2026

By Luke Lukert

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    WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTOP) — There are few greater gifts someone can give another than themselves, but that is just what one woman did for a Virginia Navy friend that she hadn’t seen in four decades. The two reconnected on Facebook and just months later both went under the knife.

“Kidney disease has been in my family for at least five generations that we know of. And before that, I think they were just undiagnosed,” Debbie Winkfield, who lives in the northern Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, told WTOP. “I found out about 20 years ago that I would need a transplant.”

Now, in April, which is National Donate Life Month, Winkfield decided to share her story to help others because her donor match turned out to be quite a surprise. And not only that, her surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital marked a milestone use of new technology at the hospital.

‘A true hero’ Winkfield said she was doing well until last spring, when doctors told her that they’d need to conduct a serious search to find her a kidney, whether it be through a family member or friend or someone on the transplant list.

Last March, she started a new Facebook group, updating friends and loved ones about her situation and asking for help to find a new kidney. Only 19 people were linked to the page.

“I reached out to some folks that I knew may qualify and may be willing to donate, and I really didn’t know if anyone would be willing or even consider it. It was just a chance I took,” Winkfield said.

Last May, MedStar Georgetown contacted her to say someone had come forward offering their kidney.

“I was very humbled and a little bit in shock because I wasn’t sure that anyone would be willing to do that,” Winkfield said.

The donor, however, was kept anonymous at first as the volunteer underwent a month of tests to see if they were a qualified match. Winkfield was not sure who was making the sacrifice to save her life.

After four weeks of testing, the anonymous donor turned out to be a match.

MedStar Georgetown’s transplant coordinator told Winkfield the donor would contact soon.

An old friend from her Navy days, Lora Booher, called her just two days later.

“The true hero in this story is Lora,” Winkfield said. “Lora did something that she didn’t have to do.”

Groundbreaking female sailors Booher and Winkfield both served aboard the U.S.S. Sierra — in 1984 they were among some of the first female sailors let aboard ships, and, according to Booher, “apparently both of us were a little crazy, because we’re like, ‘send me.’”

Both said they developed a personal bond on that ship.

“There were several situations, and Debbie and I had each other’s back, and that was a big bond between us, that we took care of each other,” Booher said.

After Booher, a Dayton, Ohio, native, left the ship after a year, the two lost contact until they became Facebook friends years later, keeping an eye on each other from afar, Booher in Ohio and Winkfield in Virginia. Then one day, Booher stumbled upon Winfield’s kidney donation page.

“I think this is meant for me. I got to do this, to help out my shipmate here,” Booher said.

While undergoing tests to make sure her kidney would match, Booher said she was frustrated that she couldn’t talk to her friend just a few states away.

“It was just amazing to me, how it all just worked out perfectly, and I don’t know what made me do it,” Booher said. “I’ve been doing some soul searching, and I haven’t said this out loud, but it was kind of like a reason to live for a while.”

She and Winfield met in D.C. on the night before the surgery and had dinner. Their conversation flowed like they had just seen each other just days ago instead of 40 years ago.

Dr. Talal Al-Qaoud was the surgeon at MedStar Georgetown who completed the kidney transplant surgery last September.

“I believe this is the only field in medicine where it really takes one human being to cure another human being,” Dr. Al-Qaoud told WTOP.

Minimally invasive surgery Winkfield’s surgery was the first kidney transplant performed at that hospital using a surgical robot.

“The whole point of this was really to kind of benefit Debbie from the recovery standpoint,” Al-Qaoud said.

Usually, a kidney transplant requires a large incision in the back, but with the robot, it’s a much more minimally invasive procedure, according to Al-Qaoud, and Winkfield said she had relatively no pain due to the small incision.

Months later, both women are healthy and are encouraging others to look into becoming organ donors this National Donate Life Month.

“I don’t think there’s any more gratification you can get out of any gift you can give to somebody. It’s priceless,” Al-Qaoud said.

“People are always amazed or thankful or just in awe that I would do something like that, and I’m like, ‘You too, can do this.’ Help somebody out. You never know,” Booher said.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling, because there really are no words for someone to think enough of me, care enough for me, and to sacrifice themselves to go through this surgery,” Winkfield said with emotion in her voice. “To offer an organ is just a feeling you can’t describe. I just don’t have the words. I thank her so much.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.