A special gift from Diane Zuo-Min Boggess’ mother-in-law By Carolyn Chapman For years, mothers-in-law have been providing comic fodder for stand-up performers aiming for easy targets. But when Diane Zuo-Min Boggess '96 considers her mother-in-law, the last thing she does is laugh; instead, she thanks her for saving her life. "Without my mother-in-law, I would not be here today," Diane reflects. In 2004, Diane’s mother-in-law, Linda Boggess, donated one of her kidneys to save Diane’s life. Doctors had diagnosed Diane with end-stage renal failure stemming from a childhood autoimmune disorder called Henoch-Schoenlein Pupura, a benign condition that is self-eliminating for most patients. Organ donation is not common in Diane’s native China, so she was not surprised when none of her blood relatives offered to investigate live organ donation. Fortunately, Linda proved to be a perfect match. The successful operation took place at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Many of Diane’s friends were surprised that her mother-in-law would make such a sacrifice, but Diane wasn’t. "Linda has a marvelously big and loving heart, is gorgeous inside and out, speaks her mind with wisdom and diplomacy, lives her life for her neighbors and church friends in need, loves silliness, is devoted to her family, and always introduces her daughters-in-law as her own daughters," wrote Diane in an on-line article published on the National Kidney Foundation’s web site, www.kidney.org. Diane could not have expected such a life journey when she arrived in America in 1992 at the age of 19 with a one-way ticket and carrying two suitcases in her hands. Her destination: William Jewell College. After graduating at the top of her high school class in 1989, she attended the University of Shanghai to study English. There she met a few American missionaries who shared Christian values with her. Based on her experiences in Shanghai, Diane decided to come to America to attend college and further her Christian study. In 1992, she obtained a scholarship and transferred to William Jewell College; she graduated in May 1996 with a double major in International Relations and Japanese Studies. She furthered her education at the Temple University School of Law and graduated with a J.D. in 2000. She works as a tax attorney and consultant with a global accounting firm advising multi-national corporations on cross-border financing, mergers and acquisitions, and divestment planning from the U.S. international tax perspective. "William Jewell changed my life forever," she reflects, "helping me grow linguistically, academically, spiritually and emotionally as I was beginning my early adulthood in a foreign country." She counts the familiar Jewell traditions among her most-treasured memories: bagpipe performers, weekly chapel services, Christian student ministries, music and fine arts programs, and Homecoming activities. During her time at Jewell, she studied abroad in Fukuoka, Japan, where she met her future husband, Keith Boggess, who was teaching English at a local high school and helping at a Baptist church. The couple lives in West Chester, Penn., and had their son, Kenny, almost six years ago. Being pregnant with Kenny exacerbated her kidney condition, which led to her transplant. The Boggess household was enriched through the adoption of their daughter, Kathryn Li-Jun, in April 2007. Looking back on her amazing path, Diane says, "I consider myself fortunate that life has offered me abundant opportunities where people have shown me kindness, generosity, support and love." As for overcoming hardships, she says with a laugh, "I have embraced them as opportunities through which I have become a stronger and wiser person." Left, mother-in-law Linda Boggess with new grandchild Kathryn Li-jun Boggess and daughter-in-law Diane Boggess in China.