By creator to www.usahockey.com
After Conger donated her kidney, she needed to keep one night time within the hospital, whereas Ouellette had a two-to-three-week keep.
“Earlier than the entire course of, I knew that Cameron was going to get my kidney, after which going to the hospital to see him when my kidney was in his physique was a very completely different feeling,” Conger mentioned. “Seeing him within the hospital was nice.”
As soon as the observe opened, and he was wholesome sufficient to attend races, Conger sat with Ouellette throughout intermissions. When Conger returned to highschool, the 2 continued to keep up a correspondence via textual content messages, significantly through the present coronavirus pandemic.
“He would give me updates on his blood and the way he was resuming again to regular life, which was at all times great to listen to,” Conger mentioned. “I’ve simply been checking on him and seeing how he’s doing. Our relationship is unusual, it’s like an entire stranger is now a part of the household.”
Conger’s selfless act restored normalcy for Ouellette.
The Hockey Humanitarian Award Basis introduced a test to Conger for $2,500 with the funds earmarked to Donate Life Vermont, a company devoted to elevating consciousness of organ, eye and tissue donation. Conger additionally donated $500 to the group as one of many 5 award finalists.
“I simply hope I make my group proud, and my dad and mom and my brother proud,” Conger mentioned. “It’s a mirrored image on how they raised me and the way my mentors and previous coaches helped form me. I’m grateful for the influence they made on my life.”
Moreover, Conger additionally volunteers with Staff IMPACT, Women with Energy Instruments and her faculty’s on-campus hub for prevention, training and consciousness of home and relationship violence.
“I simply wished to make a constructive influence within the lifetime of others,” Conger mentioned. “It provides girls an opportunity to really feel assured and empower themselves, that they will stand out and make a distinction.”
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