Susan Kasch and Diane Tillman

Susan Kasch and Diane Tillman

A Gift of Life 

A story about how two Marysville School District employees helped each other

Diane Tillman was born and raised in Arlington, WA on a dairy farm. She received her BA in Christian Education at Seattle Pacific University and a Masters of Education at Eastern Washington University. She loves biking, exercising, reading, meeting new people and spending time with friends. One of her passions is working with children. She’s traveled the world ministering to children through dramas, teachings and feeding the poor in communities and in orphanages. She has taught and substituted in the Marysville School District since 2001.

In 2004 Diane was feeling poorly and visited her doctor. She learned that her kidneys were functioning at 50%. Over time her kidney function continued to decrease and she was told that she would need a transplant - that was in 2019. 

Susan Kasch is a wife, mother of three, foster mom of one, and grandma of seven. She loves

spending time with her family and is very involved in her church. Camping, biking, hiking,

and being outdoors are some of her favorite activities. Another one of her passions is serving special needs children. Susan has worked for the Marysville School District as a para-educator for 22 years, almost exclusively in special education classrooms. “I am currently working in the Developmental Preschool Program and I love it. One evening I was watching a program on television about a kidney transplant and I felt my heart stir. I told my husband I wanted to donate a kidney! I felt very strongly about it. I didn’t pursue anything at that time because I didn’t know how to” said Susan. 

A few months later Diane Tillman was a substitute teacher in the classroom where Susan worked. Diane told her that she had recently found out that she would need a kidney transplant. Susan immediately remembered the feeling she had and told Diane that she felt like she was supposed to donate a kidney. Diane said, “who says that?!”, but it wasn’t long before she asked, “what’s your blood type?”

The testing process took about a year and it was a perfect match. “It was not just matching blood types. I was poked, prodded and questioned all along the way. I was not the least bit surprised to hear that I was a match. I had no doubt in my heart that this is what I was supposed to do”, said Susan.

In early 2019 Diane’s kidney function was 17 points out of 100. Susan had committed to giving a kidney and was even willing to miss three months of work to recuperate. Because of Susan’s generosity and giving heart, Diane was able to get a kidney transplant on August 21, 2019, and did not have to do dialysis. The kidney transplant was very successful. Diane shared “the kidney was my second-best gift next to salvation, it was a miracle. It’s such an amazing blessing and gives me a longer and better quality of life. My family is blessed and very appreciative that an acquaintance would donate a kidney.”

On the day of the surgery, August 21, as Susan lay in her pre-op room she still had total peace about the surgery. She knew it would all work out and was just doing what she felt she was supposed to do.

After several weeks of recovery, Susan stated that she would do it all again in a heartbeat. To be able to give a potentially life-saving gift. Diane shared “Susan’s gift of a kidney to me humbles me to tears.”

Family, community and local churches came together to support each of the women through the process and for that they are very grateful. 

Both Susan and Diane shared their interest in raising awareness and telling their story in hopes that it may inspire others to do the same. Based on her research, Diane shared that 13 people die in the US every day waiting for a kidney.