At age 14, a birthday party is typically a paintball bash or a pool party with friends. And the gifts normally come with a computer chip.

But for his 14th birthday, Lufkin Road Middle School student Jonathan Harden got a different idea after talking to his mother. One of her coworkers needs a double lung transplant and money was tight. Harden decided to forego gifts and use his birthday to help his mother's friend, someone he barely knew.

Harden's mother, Melanye Olive, is a driver's education instructor and special education teaching assistant at Apex High School. Her coworker, fellow teaching assistant Regan Bell, was diagnosed in 2002 with sarcoidosis, a disease where tiny clumps of abnormal tissue form in organs, especially the lungs. This summer Bell was undergoing tests to put her on a double lung transplant list at the same time she lost her second job. With two sons, ages 24 and 9, Bell had more than just herself to worry about.

Harden decided to ask for donations to Bell in lieu of birthday gifts. He invited 15 families to a party at his relatives' home July 31.

By the end of the day, Harden raised $918, which he recently presented to Bell.

Q: How did you get the idea to do this?

Harden: My mom told me about Regan, and I thought about my good friend, whose mom died when he was 11. I thought that Regan's son must be really scared. In June 2009, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and I remember that a lot of things go through your mind. It's tough to think about anything else.

Q: You are incredibly generous, but how was this a group effort?

Harden: We held the party at my grandma and aunt and uncle's house where there's lots of space to play. My friends and I played football and basketball even though it rained. My extended family helped so much by buying and cooking the food.

I kept hoping that a lot of people would come and donate money. It was amazing - the parents of a friend of mine who are unemployed gave the most.

Q: How did your mother's experience with cancer influence your decision?

Harden: My mom was a big part of all of it. She invited everyone and set aside a lot of time the Saturday before the party to help me decorate a container to put the donations in.

I remember the support we got from friends, family and our church when we really needed it - support is so important.

A blessing

For Bell, the donation was a huge surprise. And she was thankful.

Q: You have been battling sarcoidosis for a while. How has it affected you?

Bell: I was diagnosed when I had a car accident, and they had to do a chest X-ray. They also saw a lymph node enlarged on one side. I had been in the military, and my whole life, I'd never been sick. In a strange way, if not for the car accident, I never would have known.

As far as the double lung transplant, I've got one more thing to do, then I will be put on the waiting list. When the lungs come in, you have to go in right (away). I will spend three weeks in the hospital and then three months at home recovering.

Q: How did you react when you heard Jonathan gave up gifts to help you?

Bell: It was really surprising, but with him being Melanye's son, I'm not as surprised. I've only known him since October, but he is an extremely generous person.

Q: When Jonathan came over to give you the money, how did it make you feel?

Bell: He brought inspirational words and words of comfort. I had just lost my part-time job when this came up, and the donations allowed me to pay my rent. The whole thing was amazing to me - I knew only one other person out of the many who donated. It is such a blessing.