Metro Detroit TSA inspector saves 2 lives with organ donation
Original story published 2024-09-09 16:34:28
STORY SUMMARY
TSA inspector Lindsay Umphrey’s dedication to saving lives extended beyond her duties at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Around 2020, Umphrey discovered her cousin needed a kidney transplant and was facing 12-hour daily dialysis sessions. Her initial attempts to become a donor were thwarted due to health concerns and compatibility issues. However, through perseverance, she found the kidney Paired Donation Program at the University of Michigan. This program allows individuals to donate a kidney to a stranger in exchange for a compatible kidney for their loved one. In 2023, Umphrey successfully donated her kidney, facilitating a life-saving kidney swap that benefitted her cousin and another recipient.
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Lindsay Umphrey, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspector at the Metro Airport, has found her way to save lives outside her uniform by becoming an organ donor. Her journey began in 2020 upon learning her cousin needed a kidney transplant, a revelation that set her on a mission of selfless giving. Living outside Michigan, her cousin was subjected to grueling 12-hour dialysis sessions daily. Determined to assist, Umphrey began donor testing in 2022 despite initial health concerns that temporarily disqualified her from being a donor.
Undeterred, Umphrey’s perseverance saw her pass the health assessment, although challenges persisted as she was not a direct match for her cousin. Facing this setback, she discovered the kidney Paired Donation (KPD) program at the University of Michigan. Through this arrangement, she could donate her kidney to a compatible recipient, while in return, her cousin received a kidney from a different donor.
In 2023, the kidney swap took place successfully, underscoring the altruistic spirit of the KPD program. Umphrey’s contribution offered two families a renewed lease on life, with her cousin and another recipient receiving the critical organ transplants they needed. This act of kindness embodies a profound commitment to saving lives, satisfying Umphrey’s aspiration to make a tangible difference beyond her airport duties.
