QUICK SUMMARY
Forsyth County firefighter Chris Stancel received a life-saving kidney from his sister, Katie Kulbok, during a transplant at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Stancel, diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease, found a donor after his sister volunteered following a family funeral. Their mother expressed pride in their upbringing, emphasizing the importance of family support.
Chris Stancel, a firefighter from Forsyth County, received a kidney from his sister, Katie Kulbok, during a transplant at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease, Stancel only learned of his condition through routine blood pressure monitoring. After hearing a call for donors at a family funeral, Kulbok volunteered to be tested and found she was a perfect match. Their mother, Delorise Stancel, praised their upbringing, which emphasized the importance of supporting family members. Dr. Emmanuel Minja, the transplant surgeon, remarked on the rarity of finding a living donor so quickly, as most kidney transplants come from deceased donors. This life-saving procedure occurred amid the holiday season, bringing hope to the family. Nationwide, over 90,000 people are currently on kidney transplant waiting lists, with 2,800 in Georgia. Last year, more than 27,000 kidney transplants were performed across the United States.