Man Thanks Lucky Stars After Starbucks Worker Saves His Life

Man Thanks Lucky Stars After Starbucks Worker Saves His Life Getting your morning coffee usually isn't followed by near-death experiences, unexpected friendships, and emergency hospital visits, but that wasn't the case for Nicole McNeil. As a Starbucks barista, saving lives wasn't in her job description, until one man walked in with a story that changed both of their lives forever. Nicole's job was fairly standard. As a Starbucks barista, her mornings were spent as a background character in someone else's day. She got to know a few faces over time, from the lady who always requests soy, to the man who prefers black coffee. But that's usually it. She took their order, prepared their drinks, then sent them on their way. It would have been out of the ordinary, even strange, for Nicole to strike up a conversation with her regulars, but Nicole isn't an ordinary barista. This was something Vince Villano soon discovered himself. One of Nicole's regular customers, the two had a regular customer-employee relationship, until one January morning when something about Vince made Nicole cross that line between customer and employee. That morning, Nicole noticed Vince's unusual demeanor. He was fidgety and distracted, clearly upset about something. She had no idea the enormity of what Vince's life was far more complicated than his coffee order. For a decade, he had dedicated his life to the military and even worked his way to sergeant. It was impossible to forget what he saw as an emergency medical technician. But after he finished up his service, he tried to put it behind him by opening up his own branch of farmer's insurance. His once hectic life, where his own survival was always on the line, was now a standard 9-to-5, morning coffee and all. We can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Vince to adjust to civilian life, but there was something else plaguing the veteran. This would connect him to his friendly neighborhood barista out of all the people in the world. See, Nicole and Vince had no idea that one thing brought them together. The military. Nicole's husband, Justin, was a veteran just like Vince, so they both had seen more tragedy and put their lives at risk more than anyone knew. That morning at Starbucks, all Nicole knew was that her regular customer, whom she knew as Trenta Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, was definitely upset about something, so she deviated from her routine and asked him a question. I said, I'm off in about 15 to 20 minutes. We can sit down and chat before I pick up my kids, Nicole recalled. When I asked Vince, he said, it would take too long to tell you, but he clearly needed someone to listen, so Vince started to talk. She quickly discovered that Vince was a veteran, but was surprised to learn that Vince's problem wasn't about the transition from soldier to civilian. It was about something far less psychological, but it was just as complicated. Vince had polycystic kidney disease, a genetic condition that causes cyst-ridden kidneys to enlarge and shut down. The disease can cause some serious complications, from high blood pressure to kidney failure. By 2016, Vince was on a debilitating dialysis machine. In the days leading up to his talk with Nicole, he had been told by doctors that he needed a kidney transplant and that getting one was a matter of life and death. When I was first diagnosed, I felt like, well, I'm dying, Vince said. It's kind of a black cloud that hangs over you. That night, Nicole told Justin all about her conversation with Vince, and the two hatched a plan. The three became close friends, especially Justin and Vince, who bonded over their veteran status. The more they got to know each other, the more Justin and Nicole were convinced they had to help Vince. His life depended on it. After hearing Vince's story, Justin simply said, well, I have a kidney. Even after leaving his military duty behind, Justin still felt compelled to help someone in need in any way he could, even if it meant donating his own kidney. It doesn't surprise me, Nicole said But deciding to donate an organ was just the first step. After all, there was no guarantee that Justin was even a match. It took a year, but they finally got the news. Justin was a match. In the end, it really is a life or death question, Justin explained. The fact that Vince was also a veteran made this an easy question for Justin to answer. So on December 26, Justin went into But their relationship, according to Justin, won't change. Vince didn't just end up with a brand new kidney. After the surgery, his love of life returned, along with his dedication to helping others. And to think, if Nicole hadn't insisted on hearing Vince's story, the three never would have met. And not only would Vince never have gotten his kidney, but they never would have become best friends. Every stranger is a potential friend, Nicole said. With or without Justin's kidney, the three friends are certainly bonded for life.