Living Kidney Donor Secretly Tests As Match To Save Mother Of Young Child With Surgery Planned At Mayo Clinic

Liz Lusk Receives Match From Church Friend In Living kidney transplant Journey

USA: A close-knit church community rallied as Liz Lusk prepared for a second kidney transplant after a decade-long graft failure. Lusk has lived with polycystic kidney disease for more than 20 years; a living transplant from her husband Robie in 2014 provided a reprieve until that organ ceased functioning about ten years later. The prospect of another operation felt heavier this time because of her young daughter, Phoebe, and the urgency to remain present for her family.

Unbeknownst to Lusk, a fellow congregant named Hannah quietly began the screening and testing process after feeling compelled to help. Hannah submitted her application on Christmas Eve and, after months of evaluation, learned she was medically approved and a match. That same night she called Lusk to share the news, turning a desperate search for a donor into a moment of communal relief and celebration.

Both women, accompanied by their pastor and supported by their church family’s prayers, plan to travel to the Mayo Clinic for the transplantation. Church leaders described the decision as an act of deep trust and faith, framing the donor’s commitment as spiritual as well as medical. The narrative centers on living donation, the medical coordination required for a transplant, and the human stakes for a mother determined to be there for her child.

Surgery is scheduled for March 23rd, and the pair are moving forward with preoperative preparations and the backing of their community. The story highlights the power of living donor transplantation to restore health and continuity to family life, while underscoring the logistical and emotional journey that accompanies a major organ transplant.

Video originally published on 2026-03-02 21:01:52