Traveling across the country to reach Boston, Kelley was determined to make it to Tufts Medical Center in time for the life-saving surgery. Her commitment—and the lengths she went to get there—left everyone, even her experienced care team, in awe.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve ever seen a donor with this much motivation,” said Manish Varma, MD, Kelley’s transplant surgeon.
A friendship that spans decades
Kelley’s connection to Michelle goes back many years through a shared friendship. Kelley and Michelle’s wife, Libby, first met decades ago while attending Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where they served as co-captains of the women’s basketball team.
The bond they formed during those college years endured long after graduation. Over time, Kelley grew close not only with Libby but with Michelle as well.
So when Michelle’s health began to decline, Kelley didn’t hesitate to help.
Michelle, 59, has been living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) for years. The genetic condition causes clusters of cysts to grow in the kidneys, gradually impairing their ability to function. In Michelle’s case, the disease had recently worsened and was progressing toward kidney failure and likely dialysis.
She needed a transplant.
About a year before the surgery, Kelley decided she wanted to donate a kidney and contacted Michelle’s doctors to learn more about whether she might be a match. The decision, she said, felt simple given their decades-long friendship.
Donating to Michelle was a “no brainer,” Kelley said.
A race against the storm
With surgery scheduled at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Kelley and her husband began the long journey from Alaska in February. Their first flight from Anchorage to Chicago went smoothly on Feb. 21.
But the next leg of the trip proved far more challenging.
A historic winter storm was barreling toward the Northeast, bringing forecasts of blinding snow, powerful winds and widespread travel disruptions. Flights from Chicago to Boston were canceled as the blizzard intensified.
For many travelers, that would have meant postponing the trip. For Kelley, it meant finding another way.
Determined not to miss the transplant surgery, the couple rented a car in Chicago and began the long drive east, navigating winter conditions and uncertain roadways as the storm approached.
The trip added hours and miles to an already cross-country journey, but Kelley never wavered. Her focus remained on getting to Boston so the transplant could proceed as planned.
A life-saving gift
When Kelley finally arrived in Boston, the transplant team at Tufts Medical Center was ready. And the surgery was a success.
For Michelle, the transplant meant greater stability after years of managing a progressive disease.
For Kelley, the long trip from Alaska was simply part of following through on a decision she’d made months earlier. Despite flight cancellations and an approaching blizzard, she stayed focused on getting to Boston so the transplant could move forward.
“Living kidney donation is always a tremendous gift,” said Dr. Varma. “Donors can live full healthy lives with one kidney, while recipients experience major improvements in health and quality of life after transplant. Michelle and Kelley are an incredible example of the generosity we get to witness every day.”
