RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond resident Christopher Woody is preparing for major surgery – again.
In 2013, Woody donated one of his kidneys to save a family member’s life.
“My cousin was 13 at the time,” Woody said. “He needed a kidney and I had older family members and older aunts and uncles, but in the whole process, I was the only match.”
After donating his kidney, Woody was determined to be a liver donor as well. As a board member at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), he knows the need.
Ironically, Woody was turned down twice before finally being approved to donate 60% of his liver, saving two lives. He’ll be a part of an exclusive list of just 190 people who have been double organ donors nationwide since April of 1994.
UNOS employee Anne Pascke said Woody’s knack for giving back is remarkable.
“Christopher has made a huge impact in the community, because he’s willing to tell his story and let other people know that it’s possible to be a living kidney donor,” Pascke said.
Radio One personality and longtime friend Clovia Lawrence echoed those sentiments and said Woody’s actions will impact many in the community.
“This also gives all of us an opportunity, in particular Black folks, if we are in good condition and we’re healthy, we want to live it forward for someone else,” Lawrence said. “So, we don’t have to wait until we’re deceased for a transplant, we can do it as living donors now.”
Woody said he hopes the joy he’s found in giving back is enough to inspire others to do the same.
“It’s not for the weak to go underneath a knife again,” Woody said. “But if there’s something that you want to do, like I say, talk to your [doctor], talk to your family member, have a strong support team that wants to support you through the whole process.”
Woody’s surgery is scheduled to take place on March 28 in Pittsburgh and he plans on making bone marrow donation the next step in his journey of giving.
