ST. LOUIS — We all know that baseball is considered to be America's pastime and often it brings families as well as friends together. But, what about two strangers?
That's what happened Sunday morning at Busch Stadium with a once-in-a-lifetime meeting.
Just by looking at the embrace between Scott Hopfinger of Belleville, Illinois, and Beth Larsen of Springfield, Missouri, you can tell it's one filled with love and compassion, and one that's been a long time coming.
At 40-years-old, Hopfinger decided he wanted to donate one of his kidneys. He had no idea who the recipient would be, he just knew it was something he wanted to do.
Eight months ago, Larsen became that recipient. Her two-year wait for a new kidney was over.
The two have exchanged messages and pictures back and forth through Facebook, but had never met in person until Sunday morning, where they both threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to today's series finale between the Cardinals and Braves.
It's a moment Hopfinger will cherish forever.
If there's one thing that Hopfinger wants people to know about living organ donation is that it's a simple process and a comfortable process. He encourages everyone to look into it because nearly 115,000 people are currently waiting for an organ.
To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit the Mid-America Transplant website.
