A Detroit Metro Airport TSA employee has recently turned a potential family tragedy into a tale of hope by stepping up to donate an organ, not just impacting her own cousin's life but extending the gesture to save another life in the process. Lindsay Umphrey, a Transportation Security Inspector at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), was initially not on the organ donor path but decided to change course when her cousin faced a dire need for a kidney transplant due to kidney disease.

According to an interview with CBS News Detroit, Umphrey's decision quickly turned proactive as she determined to help her cousin find a match through the University of Michigan's kidney-paired donation program. This program operates on the basis of an organ swap designed to find compatible matches for patients in need. Umphrey explained, "This had never come into my life up until this point, and once it hit my doorstep, it affected my family. I really had to think about it, and I think getting the education that U of M offers really allowed me to make an educated decision and be completely confident in my decision to donate."

In her role as a TSA inspector, Umphrey is used to ensuring the safety of travelers, but as reported by clickondetroit, she didn’t know that she could also protect lives in such a direct and personal way. After her initial candidacy was rejected due to health concerns, Umphrey did not give up and worked to pass the health screen on her second attempt, leading her to participate in the swap program in 2023.

While she may not have met the stranger who received her kidney, Umphrey's contribution has offered her family member a new lease on life. "My cousin's health has improved significantly. He’s up to normal levels with a single kidney," Umphrey shared in a statement obtained by WXYZ. In supporting her through recovery, Federal Security Director for TSA in the State of Michigan, Reggie Stephens, praised Umphrey's act of kindness, saying, "Lindsay’s contribution and her act of kindness and generosity you can’t say enough about here as a human being and we’re just lucky and fortunate to have her."

Now, as an advocate for organ donation education, Umphrey hopes to inspire others to consider taking a similar step. She told WXYZ, "I don’t want to make an overarching statement that everyone should be an organ donor but I think it’s worth considering if anyone comes across a situation where they either feel drawn to it because of a personal situation or if they don't have a personal situation they just feel that strongly about it, I think they should go ask questions. Go contact your local hospital."