By Amanda Stanley
Kristin Lundberg spends her days teaching middle school children the joys and demands of theater and dance. A recent production of Peter and the Starcatcher explored themes of friendship, duty, and love, all very important to Lundberg, as she has proven by donating her kidney to her dear friend, co-worker, and assistant principal, Ernest DeVane.
The two have worked together for six years and have developed a close friendship. Lundberg describes DeVane as kind, generous, and lovely. “He has always checked on me,” says Lundberg. “He became a bit more of a brother to me. I think the world of him.”
DeVane, husband and father of two, started experiencing the beginning stages of renal failure at the age of 27. When it became necessary to receive a kidney transplant, DeVane reached out on the Team WCPSS Facebook page asking his fellow educators to consider getting tested.
Lundberg immediately began the process. Testing took a few months, but Lundberg finally received the call that she was a match. She said she was so thrilled. “I know God set this up for us,” said Lundberg. “I got tested because I knew this was going to happen. I wanted to make sure [DeVane] knew I was going to go through with this.”
Lundberg shared that God has given her so many opportunities in life. In addition to wanting to help DeVane, she wanted to show gratitude for all God has done for her. For these reasons, Lundberg and DeVane underwent successful kidney transplant surgery on September 29, 2025.
Lundberg explains that there were people to help her every step of the way, from doctors to social workers; she was even partnered with a mentor who had been through the donation process. The testing and vetting process is so thorough that it left her feeling comfortable and confident that she was well taken care of.
Becoming a Living Donor
There are many things to consider when deciding to be an organ donor, such as your health, your ability to take time to heal, and the support of your family and friends. Your healthcare provider will be able to answer questions you have and there is a wealth of information available online, including www.kidney.org and www.organdonor.gov.
If you decide to become a living donor, the next step is to contact a transplant center. Both Duke and UNC Hospitals offer transplant services. If you are trying to donate to a specific recipient, you must go to the transplant center where he or she is registered. You will be asked to complete health history forms and give blood and urine samples to rule out any health issues that would disqualify you. You will then be scheduled to complete imaging and lab tests at the transplant center and meet with a transplant team consisting of professionals trained to evaluate your health and well-being.
There are organizations, like the American Kidney Fund, that can provide financial assistance for travel, meals, and missed salary. Living donors can donate one kidney, a lobe of the liver, part of the lung, a section of the intestine, or a portion of the pancreas, as well as bone marrow and stem cells. You have complete control over what you choose to donate, and you can stop the process at any time if you change your decision.
For Lundberg, there was no going back. Her friend needed her and she was happy to help. In just over a month, she was back teaching her students while DeVane was resting and recovering at home. Her recovery has gone smoothly, and Lundberg stresses that she does not feel any different without her kidney.
Lundberg encourages people to get tested for organ donation. “The surgery is low-risk, and the doctors have your back. If you can extend someone’s life, why wouldn’t you?”
DeVane’s story has a happy ending, but many people waiting for a transplant will never receive one. In North Carolina alone, almost 4,000 people are waiting for organ transplants. Seventy-three of them are children. While these people wait, their quality of life is diminished.
“You don’t know until you are part of this community how many people have been touched by organ donation,” said Allison Brouillette, executive director of Donate Life North Carolina. “They are your neighbors, your friends.”
Donate Life America is a national nonprofit organization with independent chapters in every state. Their mission is to raise awareness about organ donation, including eye, organ, and tissue donation, and to help people register to be a donor. The North Carolina Donate Life website is a good resource for anyone with questions about organ donation: donatelifenc.org.
Kristin Lundberg is a living organ donor, but you can also choose to become an organ donor upon your death. There are currently about 5.4 million North Carolinians registered as organ donors, about 55 percent of the state’s population. Unfortunately, only about one percent of registered donors will meet the criteria to donate upon their death. According to www.organdonor.gov, there has been an 87% increase in organ donors in the last 10 years (2015 to 2024); however, there remains a shortage of organs for the people who need them.
“That is why it is so important to have as large and diverse a pool of donors as possible on our donor registry,” emphasized Brouillette.
Registering to be an organ donor is easy. You can visit Donate Life NC’s website, you can register at the DMV or DMV kiosks, and healthcare MyCharts are rolling out a registration feature across the country. Starting in 2028, a recently passed bill will allow you to register when filing your taxes.
Dispelling Myths
While registering is a simple task, the many myths and misunderstandings about organ donation are keeping people from taking that step.
For example, it has been a widespread myth for decades that those people registered for organ donation will receive less care when sick or injured. “This is a thousand percent incorrect,” exclaimed Brouillette. “The hospital team and the teams that support donations and transplants are completely different.” When receiving care, the hospital team’s only focus is to save your life. They do not know if you are an organ donor. The medical team will provide full and complete care, and only if you do not survive will they check your donor status. Then the donation team will be called.
For living donors, there is a misconception that the donor will undergo high-risk surgery and that recovery will be lengthy. Kristin Lundberg says that in her experience this is untrue. Every surgery has risk, but the organ donor procedure is relatively low-risk, with approximately a one- to two-month recovery time. Lundberg was back teaching after five weeks. Every situation is different, but generally the healthier you are, the easier the recovery.
Another misbelief is that there is a cost associated with organ donation. Neither the donor’s family nor the recipient will receive additional cost for organ donation. Federal law prohibits the payment for organs, which leads us to the myth that organs are taken for black market sales. This is not true, nor is it viable. As Brouillette explains, organs do not have a long “shelf-life.” Organs must remain in the donor until the recipients are ready to receive them. The donor must also be a match for the recipient.
Over the years there has been increased confusion about religious objections to organ donation. In truth, most religions support the life-giving act of organ donation. Donate Life has done extensive research on numerous religions and has compiled a list on their web site, www.donatelifenc.org/religious%20views. Talking with your faith leader and your loved ones will help you decide what is right for you.
From One to Many
If you are one of the one percent of registered donors able to donate, you will be able to help numerous individuals achieve a better life. Your organs can help up to eight people. Your corneas can be donated to two people, and your tissue, like bone portions, skin, and ligaments, can help up to 75 people. Your selfless donation can give the gift of life, sight, and movement to someone who will be forever grateful. You are also able to choose which donations you would like to make: eyes, tissue, and/or organs.
Registering to be an organ donor is a personal decision. It should be made knowing all the facts. There are numerous resources to help you learn more about donation. Donate Life has a wealth of information on their website, as does www.organdonor.gov.
If you are a registered organ donor, make sure you talk with your family about your wishes. Also, discuss the importance of organ donation with your children. Give them the resources to make an informed decision when they apply for or renew their driver’s license or choose to register in one of the other ways previously mentioned.
In the United States, more than 48,000 Americans received life-saving transplants in 2024 alone. Each one of those recipients owes their life to a person who made a generous decision to register to be an organ donor.
Will you choose to be someone’s hero by making the selfless act of organ donation?
