"Star Wars" humor leads to kidney donation

Katie Hallum, a woman living in Oklahoma and awaiting an organ transplant, took to the internet in her hour of need. In July 2022, she made a TikTok video that somehow caught the attention of a nurse living 497 miles away in Kansas.

Utilizing humor and movie quotes, Hallum's TikTok video featured a witty dialogue snippet from the "Star Wars" spin-off series, "The Mandalorian," with the phrase, "You have something I want". Although the video was lighthearted and humorous, viewer Savannah Stallbaumer, a nurse, was captivated and took the message to heart.

Stallbaumer, acquainted with the struggles of those living with kidney disease and frequent exhausting dialysis treatments, understood the dire plea behind the joke. She decided that she could provide tangible help to this TikTok stranger.

The "Washington Post" details the subsequent elements of this story, explaining how Stallbaumer reached out to the surprised Hallum.

Hallum had posted the video in jest, never genuinely expecting to find a living donor ready to sacrifice their organ on a social media app. She had hoped to receive an organ from a deceased donor.

Despite her doubts, Hallum forwarded the contact details of her hospital's transplant center in Tulsa to Stallbaumer. She thought it would be too miraculous if they turned out to have compatible blood types, and she didn't fully believe this newfound relationship would grow into a lifesaving encounter.

However, following that initial connection, events transpired rapidly. In August, Stallbaumer donated her left kidney to Hallum. This act of sacrifice occurred despite them having only met face-to-face a few times.

Hallum, a 21-year-old student, has now almost fully recuperated. She is now studying journalism and international security unimpeded at the University of Oklahoma.

Throughout this unique encounter, Hallum and Stallbaumer have become dear friends. The donor and recipient, a year apart in age, plan to share the Christmas holidays. Acknowledging their strange yet profound connection, Stallbaumer told "The Washington Post," "It's a bit strange saying this, but she has a piece of my body inside her body. It's like an inseparable bond." Hallum jokingly responded, "I'm now 5 percent Savannah."