A Woman’s Medical Crisis Takes a Hollywood Turn with Love and a Life-Saving Twist

Nicole Munda was 29 and facing a grim future. Diagnosed with a rapidly progressing liver disease, she was told bluntly: "If you don’t find a liver donor, Nicole, you may not live past your 30s." Not exactly the kind of pep talk you want as you approach a milestone birthday.

At a friend’s suggestion, she decided to distract herself with a trip to the Phoenix International Raceway, despite her initial hesitation. The roaring engines and cheering crowds seemed like a good way to escape her reality, even if just for a day. Little did she know that this spontaneous trip would change her life forever.

At the raceway, Nicole found herself seated next to Jess Coleman, a friendly guy in a cowboy hat who, as fate would have it, grew up in the same small town in Nevada as she did. If that wasn’t serendipitous enough, Jess stunned her by revealing he actually knew her — he carpooled with her mom and even recognized her from a group photo taken during a whitewater rafting trip years earlier. Cue the jaw drop.

What started as a chance encounter quickly blossomed into a whirlwind romance. Jess drove 750 miles every weekend to see Nicole, and within just a few months, their love story reached a new height when Jess proposed. Nicole said yes, and the couple began planning their wedding. It sounds like a rom-com, right? But their story had a darker subplot.

Nicole’s liver disease wasn’t taking a break for romance. Despite their efforts to find a matching donor among her family, no one qualified. Then, just before their wedding, doctors delivered devastating news: her liver might be cancerous. Surgery was the only way to confirm, but they couldn’t operate without a donor ready to go. Enter Jess, the cowboy-turned-knight-in-shining-armor.

Jess insisted on being tested as a potential donor. Initially hesitant, the doctors eventually agreed, reasoning that as her soon-to-be husband, he met the criteria of being "emotionally connected." Talk about redefining the term "marital commitment."

The couple proceeded with their wedding, surrounded by loved ones praying for a miracle. Instead of a honeymoon, they headed to the Mayo Clinic, where they received the first glimmer of hope: Jess was a match. Not just any match — a perfect one. He shared Nicole’s rare blood type, was the same size physically, and was in stellar health. Within weeks, Jess gave Nicole the most incredible wedding gift imaginable: the gift of life.

As they recovered side-by-side in hospital beds, the newlyweds reflected on the extraordinary series of "Godwinks" that brought them together and ultimately saved Nicole’s life. Their story is a testament to love, hope, and a little help from the universe.

Nicole and Jess’s journey has since inspired many, and their story was even featured in the book "Godwinks on Love" by SQuire Rushnell. It’s a reminder that sometimes life’s most unexpected detours lead to the happiest destinations.