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Two decades ago, an incredible connection began with UNC Health’s first living non-directed kidney donation from a UNC Health nurse to a woman in need of a kidney transplant. 63-year-old Chapel Hill resident Anne Kelly and 69-year-old Clayton resident Debra Norris share their unique story of selflessness and gratitude and an instant unbreakable bond through one kidney.


Anne Kelly & Debra Norris
Kidney donor Anne Kelly and recipient Debra Norris met each other for the first time 22 years later.

The crisp fall morning of October 23, 2024 is one Debra Norris and Anne Kelly will remember fondly forever. Kidney recipient and donor met each other face to face 22 years after Anne donated her kidney to whomever was next to receive a life-saving kidney at UNC Hospitals, and that was Debra. Both women are now forever connected through one single kidney donation.

“I knew this was an opportunity to help someone not be sick anymore,” Anne said. “I believe that God guides my steps and he called me to be a donor. He called me to be a nurse. It’s really following in my faith about what that means to care for someone.”

Twenty-two years ago in January 2002, Anne became the first non-directed kidney donor, which is an anonymous donation to a stranger in need, at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Now 63, she was a 40-year-old nurse at the hospital back then.

“At that time, non-directed donations  were not common,” said Amy Woodard, the Living Donor Coordinator at the UNC Center for Transplant Care. “I imagine larger centers were probably doing them, but we hadn’t started doing them at UNC. When Anne approached us about being a non-directed donor, we knew how to medically evaluate her but weren’t sure about the psychosocial  aspect and allowing her to donate to someone she didn’t know.”

The person she didn’t know was Clayton resident Debra Norris, who was already diagnosed with end stage kidney disease and was on hemodialysis.

Anne Kelly & Debra Norris pic 4“When you have to go on dialysis, it can really take a toll on your body and your organs. It was really tough to experience,” said Debra, who was 45-years old at the time and needed a new kidney to live. She was evaluated and was on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, which seemed like a never-ending marathon. In North Carolina there’s not enough supply to meet the demand.

“The average waiting time in this part of North Carolina for a deceased kidney is about 6 to 7 years,” said Amy. “That’s because we have quite a few people in our state that have kidney disease due to many people diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are the leading causes of kidney failure. We just don’t have enough people willing to be organ donors.”

A kidney from a living donor usually lasts longer post-transplant than one from a deceased donor and has a lower chance of rejection. For three years, Debra’s name stayed on the waiting list, but she had no idea that her match was on its way.

After multiple medical evaluations, consultations with social workers and psychologists with Anne, and multidisciplinary team meetings, the transplant medical team decided to proceed with Anne donating her kidney. This donation could not only begin a dramatic improvement in a person’s quality of life, but also long-term survival. The day Anne donated her kidney was the day Debra received the gift of life.

The Reunion 22 Years Later.Anne Kelly & Debra Norris pic 2

Every year the two ladies would send cards to each other. Debra would send her card to the UNC transplant office, and the team would mail it to Anne. Since this was an anonymous donation neither woman had each other’s mailing address. Throughout the years they would also send Christmas cards to each other, and Anne would send a card on the anniversary of the kidney donation. In one card, Debra mentioned that she wanted to meet Anne.

“I wanted to meet her because what she did was really important to me,” said Debra.

“She was always on my mind. I always wondered if she had remained healthy and how the kidney was working all these years,” said Anne.

It was on October 23, 2024, when both women agreed to reunite at UNC Hospitals’ Chapel Hill campus, right where their life-changing connection began.

“I was overjoyed,” said Anne. “Absolutely grateful!”

“I’m so thankful,” said Debra. “I didn’t sleep the night before because I was so excited. I’ve been wanting to do this since I got my kidney. I wanted to meet her to let her know how important she was to me.”

Since Anne’s generous selfless donation in 2002, there has been an increase in anonymous kidney donors at UNC Hospitals. Amy said they normally receive 15 to 20 inquiries a year.

“Nowadays it’s pretty common to have people reach out to us about kidney donation without a particular recipient  in mind,” said Amy. “It could be because of something they saw on the news or heard about. Or a story they read on social media.”

Anne Kelly & Debra Norris pic 3According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there’s currently around 93,000 people in the U.S. on the kidney transplant waitlist, and at UNC Hospitals there’s currently more than 900 patients waiting to receive a new kidney. The significance of donating an organ is giving the opportunity for an individual to get a second chance to experience life to its fullest. It’s heroism in pure form.

“It was like coming full circle,,” Anne said of meeting Debra. “From a faith perspective, I felt like I was looking at God’s handiwork.”

Written by Brittany Phillips, Communications Specialist, UNC Health | UNC School of Medicine