People.com Human Interest Woman Donates Kidney to Best Friend 20 Years After Helping Her Heal from Organ Donor Son's Death Cindy Mueller adopted a new healthy lifestyle in order to donate her kidney to pal Carol Patrylo By Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis Instagram Twitter Rachel DeSantis is a writer/reporter covering music at PEOPLE. She has held various roles since joining the brand in 2019, and was previously a member of the human interest team. As a music writer, Rachel interviews everyone from rock-and-roll legends to up-and-coming stars for magazine feature stories and digital news stories. Rachel is based in New York City, and previously worked as an entertainment reporter at the New York Daily News after getting her start as an Entertainment Weekly intern. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 26, 2021 02:20 PM Share Tweet Pin Email A pair of best friends who have helped each other through thick and thin are now even more bonded for life after one donated a kidney to the other. Carol Patrylo had an "instant connection" with longtime pal Cindy Mueller after they first met while working together at the Lindbergh School District in St. Louis, Patrylo told NBC affiliate KSDK. "I thought she was sweet and just loving and she thought I was nuts, and that made her laugh," she joked. It would seem opposites attract, though, and the two forged a friendship that was made even stronger after Patrylo lost her 19-year-old son Todd to a drunk driver in 2000. "I watched this woman lose her will to live," Mueller told KSDK. "There were times that I would go to her house and get her dressed and drive her to work, just so I knew she wouldn't lay in her bed all day." RELATED VIDEO: Son of Late Arizona Cardinals Player Kwamie Lassiter Meets Bone Marrow Donor Who Saved His Life Patrylo said Mueller's support helped her get through the difficult time — and now, more than 20 years later, she learned to lean on her friend once again after going into stage 5 kidney failure and being put on dialysis, according to KSDK. Mueller knew right away that, just as Todd had donated his organs following his death, she wanted to donate her kidney. 10-Year-Old Girl Who Saved 4 Lives as an Organ Donor Honored in Rose Parade Event "I didn't have to think about it," she said. "It was an instant thing. My best friend needs a kidney." In a lucky break, Mueller was a perfect match for Patrylo — but as she was overweight and pre-diabetic, she had to take it upon herself to get in shape in order to save her friend. "I said, 'Well, I'm on a journey and I'm losing weight, so we're going to make this happen,'" she told KSDK. "In giving her the gift of life, I was also able to get myself the gift of a healthy lifestyle." Florida Widow Donates Kidney to Same Man Who Received Her Husband's Organs 16 Years Ago With diet and exercise, Mueller lost 54 pounds, and Patrylo finally received her kidney in a transplant surgery last month at Saint Louis University Hospital. "I've got a lot to live for," Patrylo said. "And I'm so blessed to have a friend like Cindy."