A Journey of Organ Donation Strengthened by Community

Longtime YMCA member Christy Russell was lying in bed one night watching the news when she saw a heartwarming story about a young man in need of a kidney transplant. The story touched her in a way she hadn’t felt before, and she felt called by God to help. She reached out to UW Hospital, began the screening process, and committed to the journey of becoming a living donor.

Over the next 6–9 months, Christy attended appointments, completed blood work, and made lifestyle modifications to ensure she was in the best possible health

“The YMCA helped me get in shape before surgery and I was back in group classes just four weeks after,” Christy shares. “The instructors knew what I was going through and kept an eye on me. I even got a handmade card from several people in class—it just shows how much people at the Y care.”

On February 28, 2023, Christy donated her kidney as part of a paired kidney exchange. While she wasn’t a direct match for the young man she originally hoped to help, her donation set off a life-saving chain reaction—her kidney was sent to a recipient in Arizona, and in turn, the young man she saw on the news moved to the top of the list and received his transplant just three months later. In total, Christy’s decision saved two lives.

Now, she’s using her experience to spread awareness about the power of living donation. April is National Donate Life Month, and she wants more people to know that organ donation isn’t just something that happens after passing—it’s something that can change lives today.

Through it all, Christy has found strength in her community at the Y. “Exercise helps your whole body—it’s even good for your organs!” she adds. “The Y has been such an important part of my journey—not just in staying active, but in surrounding myself with supportive, caring people. Donating an organ was an emotional experience, and at times, I felt overwhelmed. But coming back to the Y, seeing familiar faces, and moving my body helped me heal mentally as much as physically. I couldn’t have done this without the Y.”