The COVID-19 pandemic has been a trying time for the many people facing chronic illness. Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have also faced setbacks in receiving a kidney as the number of transplant surgeries has decreased. 

There is, however, a story of hope during this time, as an ESKD patient receives a kidney from an unlikely source and develops a unique friendship. Learn about the story and bond between these two women and how it was a healing journey for both of them. 

Looking for Purpose in Times of Chaos

Amid the pandemic and society’s widened divisions, 42-year old Brie Russell felt powerless and anxious. She admits that she struggled to find peace within herself from all the chaos. 

In the summer of 2020, she discovered a possible cure after learning kidney transplants were down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided donating a kidney could provide a twofold feeling. 

“Maybe that would be another layer of healing I needed to help me find that peace I was looking for,” Russell adds.

She reached out to Duke’s Kidney Transplant Program. After passing a physical and mental evaluation, she scheduled her donation surgery.

Looking for A Miracle in Times of Uncertainty 

After 20 years in the Army and a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at 38, Luna Kress did not let anything slow her down. She was a family-oriented mother and wife who enjoyed her days looking after her grandsons. 

In late 2019, Kress was told her kidney function was declining significantly, and she would need a transplant. Unfortunately, nobody in Kress’s family or circle of friends was a match. For months, Kress and her family campaigned to the public through social media, yard signs, and more to retrieve a matching kidney. 

With a weakened immune system, Kress was forced to keep her distance from her family when the pandemic began. Throughout 2020, Kress struggled emotionally with not being able to see her family regularly. After a Thanksgiving weekend without her children and grandchildren, Kress said, “I thought, I can’t keep doing this. I thought, ‘I’m done.’”

Soon after, she received the call she had been yearning for – she had a donor match. 

Their Rare Connection

On December 3, 2020, both Russell and Kress were driven to Duke University Hospital by their husbands. 

The two women’s surgeries took place in adjacent operating rooms, which was very rare. “Usually when someone like Brie comes forward, we’re shipping the kidney off to Michigan, or Florida, or Virginia,” said Emily Moore, transplant coordinator with Duke University Hospital. “It’s not usual for a Duke anonymous donor to be giving to a Duke recipient. That’s really incredible.”

The surgeries went well for both women, but due to privacy rules, they were unable to meet in the hospital. It was around April 2021 when Kress heard from a transplant coordinator that Russell wanted to exchange information. 

Soon after receiving each other’s phone numbers, they were texting and calling. Sharing stories of their lives, what led to their transplant, and what they’ve been doing since. After both received the COVID-19 vaccine, they scheduled to meet in person in June 2021. 

It was at a local Starbucks where the women met. A 39-second video shows them darting to one another in a tearful embrace. Over the next few hours, they discuss their challenging times before surgery and how the surgery has changed both of their lives for the better.

“It was a really good day for both of us,” Russell said. “We are both a part of each other’s healing in different ways. I’m so grateful. I feel like I received so much from her.” 

*Schramm, S. (2021, November 15). Duke Staff Member Finds Peace through Kidney Donation. Duke Today. https://today.duke.edu/2021/11/duke-staff-member-finds-peace-through-kidney-donation