The Haverstraw community came together Saturday to celebrate a life-changing milestone for a beloved teacher.

Family, friends and first responders participated in a parade to honor Nicole Faleri, who recently underwent a successful kidney transplant after battling a chronic kidney disease for six years.

Faleri was diagnosed on Easter Sunday of 2020 with sclerosis of the kidney, a condition that causes the kidney's essential tissues to deteriorate over time. At one point, she said her kidney function had dropped to just 15%.

“No one really thinks they are going to need this,” Faleri said. “When you get the opportunity to have this and somebody steps up, it's not anything that you can ever repay them for.”

The person who ultimately stepped forward to help was someone she already knew well. Antonio Matias, a neighbor and parent of one of Faleri’s students, learned about her need for a donor after his wife saw a social media post about her situation. He decided to get tested and discovered he was a match. Matias hopes sharing his story encourages others to consider becoming organ donors.

“It's a journey and it's a little painful, but the end result is amazing,” he said. “Nicole is going to live a long, healthy life, and so will I.”

Faleri said she wants the public to better understand the seriousness of kidney disease and the critical role donors play in saving lives.

The parade served as both a celebration of Faleri’s successful transplant and a show of gratitude for the donor who made it possible.