What if following your calling meant making a choice that could change someone else’s life — and your own?
For Anne Kelly, a former nurse at UNC Health, the decision to donate her kidney was more than a medical one; it was a call to care for others in a way that went beyond her profession — a commitment that resonates with every UNC Health team member.
That single choice gave someone the gift of life, setting in motion a 22-year-long journey that would eventually lead Anne to Debra Norris, the woman whose life she unknowingly saved.
A Nurse’s Choice
In January 2002, Anne, a then 40-year-old nurse at UNC Health, made the brave decision to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger. At the time, living organ donations were rare, and non-directed donations, where an organ donor gives to a stranger, were even rarer. But Anne felt compelled to help.
She didn’t see it as a grand gesture; she simply saw someone in need and knew she could help. It was a choice born of faith and duty that would transform not one, but two lives forever.
For Debra, the road to a transplant was paved with uncertainty. Diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease at 45, she had endured dialysis and a three-year wait on the transplant list. Little did she know, Anne’s decision would set their lives on a path that would eventually merge, proving the profound impact of one small act.
The Power of a Single Act
Over the years, Debra and Anne sent cards to each other through the UNC transplant office. Since the donation was anonymous, neither had the other’s address. Each year, they sent Christmas cards and notes, and Anne would send one on the anniversary of the donation. Eventually, Debra wrote that she wanted to meet Anne.
And October 23, 2024, that’s just what they did on UNC Health’s Chapel Hill campus — right where it all began. For Anne, seeing Debra healthy and thriving only deepened her belief that she made the right choice.
“It was like coming full circle,” Anne said of meeting Debra.
And in that moment, she saw that her decision wasn’t just about saving Debra’s life. It reflected the unwavering commitment to care that defines UNC Health’s mission: to improve the health and well-being of all Carolinians.
Giving the Gift of Life
Their reunion wasn’t just a celebration of two lives forever intertwined — it was a reminder that the care provided at UNC Health goes beyond the physical. It’s the people of UNC Health that make it what it is — nurses, doctors and staff who go above and beyond every day, guided by a shared commitment to healing and hope.
If you’re inspired by Anne and Debra’s story, consider becoming a living organ donor or exploring other ways to make a difference in your community. To find more inspiration and stories of everyday greatness, sign up for the UNC Health newsletter today.
