Students Present and Past Rally To Help Beloved Teacher

ORANGE PARK, FL - The Orange Park Community is rallying to find a kidney for a beloved teacher in need of a kidney transplant.

Orange Park High School health teacher Betzy Nelson had battled a cystic kidney disease for many years, and recently her doctors told her the news she hoped wouldn't come for a few more years.

It is time for a transplant.

But Nelson approached the news the same way she's approached her students with their coursework for thirty years --With a quiet, supportive, confident elegance.

"The idea is I am going to get a kidney and I am going to do much better" said Nelson in her classroom Thursday afternoon.

"And now that she needs a kidney, we're all just rooting for her and hoping nothing bad happens to her" said student athlete V-J Cameran.

This OPHS Junior shares the heartfelt sentiment of hundreds of students -- present and past -- who are rallying to help their teacher -- and their trusted friend.

"I'll help her any way that I could. If that means giving her something of mine..."

Does that include one of his kidneys? Cameran breaks in to a wide grin.

"Sure! I would. She's like a Mom to me -- so I would!"

Other students share the love, and the worry.

"Everybody around here has been very concerned about her and just worried and she makes a very big impact at our school, so we're all just crossing our fingers and praying that everything goes well and comes through" said OPHS Senior Ashley Floyd.

Word spread like wildfire throughout Orange Park and beyond, that their devoted friend and trusted mentor needs folks with type "O" blood to be tested to see if they can donate a kidney to Nelson.

"I've been in tears quite a bit today. That's one of the joys of teaching. You realize just how much your students are affected by what you do in the classroom and how important you are to them" said Nelson.

If you would like more information about helping Betzy Nelson get a new kidney, or if you would like to be tested to see if you are a possible donor match, you can contact:

Betsy's Sister, Coleen Stoffa at 904-215-5683 or via email at cstoffa@aol.com.

You can also contact the Shands Gainesville Kidney Transplant program at 352-265-0254.

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