How many of us would willingly donate a kidney to save someone we love, much less someone we barely know? For Carl Densford, the answer was a resolute “yes.”
A retired Air Force Major and meteorologist with 22 years of experience, Carl has always thrived on challenges and a commitment to physical activity. “I started doing triathlons a few years ago,” he says, with his wife Heather’s encouragement, a fellow veteran whom he met during his service. “It’s a unique opportunity to compete against yourself almost constantly.”
Two years ago, Heather shared with Carl devastating news about her mentor and former flight commander, Carrie, who was facing kidney failure due to IGA neuropathy. Although Heather was not a match, Carl’s O-positive blood type made him a promising prospect. After a year of tests and evaluations, doctors deemed him the best match for the transplant.
On September 18, 2024, despite only meeting Carrie in passing a couple of times, Carl underwent surgery to donate one of his kidneys to save her life.
“Seeing suffering is especially hard for military members to deal with,” he shares. “We always want to help. I felt like this was another way to continue my service after retiring. Instead of serving 330 million Americans, now I am serving one.”
The results were immediate. Carrie’s kidney function went from 13% with both kidneys to bordering 82% with only one of Carl’s, 24 hours post-op. “It’s inspiring to see how the care I’ve given my body paid off in such a way that hopefully, for the rest of her lifetime, she won’t have to worry about that piece,” he says. Now, nearly five years after her initial prognosis, Carrie can return to working full-time in the cockpit.
When asked about his feelings on the whole process, Carl says he “can’t describe it as anything other than love.”
“I want her to be healthy and reap the benefits of this process,” he adds. “Every time I get a message about Carrie’s progress, it nearly brings me to tears.”
Carl’s own recovery from surgery was rocky at first, as he could barely walk or see clearly due to the effects of the surgery. “My first real walk over 50 feet was greeting Carrie after her surgery,” he shares. “My body took a little time adjusting to one kidney, and I slowly started incorporating all of my disciplines at about six weeks,” he says of his own grit and determination to get back in the game of his active lifestyle.
Four months post-surgery, Carl completed his first Olympic-distance triathlon, and this past summer, he broke his personal records at the Memphis in May triathlon, shaving nine minutes off his swim time and improving his bike and run times. He also participated in several other races, including the Wolf River 5K, Natchez Trace Century Ride, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, and Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike.
Besides these impressive accolades, Carl feels the experience has changed him in bigger ways. “I don’t hold grudges anymore. Seeing someone suffer makes you realize life is too short and fragile to be upset about much of anything.”
Though retired from the military, Carl continues to use his passion for helping others. He is involved in the DOVE Transplant Group to support veteran kidney recipients and will represent Mississippi at the Transplant Games of America next year. He is also a member of both Kidney Donor Athletes and Traveling Irreverent Warriors, the latter of which brings awareness to the Veteran suicide epidemic and forms bonds of support.
Carl hopes his story encourages others to consider living donations. “You can save someone’s life with little to no risk of your own,” he says.
To learn more about becoming a living kidney donor, visit Dovetransplant.org.
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Tindall Stephens
