This episode of Tech Talent Today is a little different, but it's a topic deeply personal and incredibly important to our community. We welcome Andrea Samson, the daughter of our very first guest, CIO Juliette Samson. Andrea is a first responder, an EMT, and an inspiring individual who has faced a lifelong battle with kidney disease. In 2009, she received a kidney transplant from her father, but is now once again in need of a life-saving kidney. Andrea joins us to share her story of resilience, her dedication to helping others, and how we can all come together to help her in her search for a donor. "I think one of the struggles of any chronic illness is that it tends to consume your life, not just seeing doctors, but all the medicines you have to take and all of the different things that you have to deal with every day that just maybe a normal person doesn't have to think about. So I wake up with a lot less energy. I start with about a 20% battery, and I have to make that last a whole day, and I have to be very careful about how I choose to spend my energy every single day. And with that in mind, I do have these rather ambitious goals in my life, and so I have to prioritize my health, but also find ways to keep working towards the goals that I have." - Andrea Samson You'll want to hear this episode if you are interested in… 0:01:43 — From Patient to Healer: Andrea's journey with a chronic illness and how it inspired her to become a healer, including her work as an EMT and her pursuit of a Master's in Acupuncture. 0:02:54 — The Power of Community: How connecting with patients in the back of an ambulance and finding joy in volunteer work have kept Andrea going through her health challenges. 0:07:09 — A Different Kind of Leadership: Andrea's role as a Second Lieutenant for a local emergency squad, where she manages certifications, interviews, and onboards new members. 0:09:50 — Tutoring & Mentorship: Andrea's passion for teaching and the joy she finds in helping students overcome their belief that "I can't do it". 0:11:47 — The Mystery of Eastern Medicine: Andrea's unconventional path to acupuncture and her goal of integrating it with Western medicine to improve the lifespan of organs. 0:18:36 — The Donor Process, Demystified: Andrea breaks down the process of becoming a living donor, clarifying that the donor and recipient teams are separate and that all donor expenses are covered. This episode is a testament to the power of the human spirit and an urgent call to action. We encourage all listeners to learn more about Andrea's story and consider if you might be the person to give the gift of life. About Andrea Samson: Andrea is a beautiful and ambitious young woman who, at the age of 30, is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, she has suffered with ill health throughout her young life. At the age of three, Andrea was diagnosed with MPGN kidney disease and began a battle that she still fights today. In 2009, Andrea received a kidney transplant from her father, but Andrea continues to face struggles and recently her kidney started to fail and over time it is losing its function. Despite her ongoing illness, which often kept her out of school, Andrea remained a top-performing student in high school and was ultimately accepted into a prestigious college in the northeast, where she continued to excel as an RA, Ted Talker, Private Tutor in math, and local EMT First Responder. She is currently finishing a Master's degree in Acupuncture after receiving her BS in Biology at Lafayette College. Andrea is still hoping to enter medical school upon graduating from Acupuncture School to ultimately have a practice of integrated Eastern and Western medicine. She wants to be a doctor so she can improve or help save the lives of other people who suffer from chronic and/or life-threatening diseases, as she does. Help Andrea Find a Kidney GoFundMe: A link to the GoFundMe page to support Andrea. · Direct Donation: Link to the RWJ Barnabas kidney donation form. When applying, please specify that you are donating specifically for Andrea Samson. All donor expenses are covered. · Contact Andrea's Parents: If you are considering becoming a donor, you can contact Andrea's parents at [email protected] or text 908-419-0509. Learn More About Andrea Andrea's Website: Share a Spare Kidney Andrea's LinkedIn Profile: Andrea's LinkedIn Profile Connect with Us Listen to Juliette's episode: How One Woman Overcame Extreme Obstacles on the Path to CIO Connect with Tech Talent Today host Jodi Kulek Mayer: Jodi's LinkedIn Profile Visit Clearmont Technologies for IT staffing and search: ClearmontTech.com THANKS FOR LISTENING Did you enjoy this episode? If so, don't forget to subscribe and share it with a friend. See you next time on Tech Talent Today! Subscribe to Tech Talent Today onApple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts This podcast was proudly produced in partnership with Podlad.com