Courtney Gibson is a kidney transplant recipient and volunteer with the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP), where she shares her story to support others going through kidney disease and transplant.

While Courtney doesn’t have polycystic kidney disease (PKD), her story may still resonate with members of the PKD community - especially young people facing kidney failure and transplant.

Stories from teenagers who have gone through the transplant process are rare, and Courtney’s experience offers valuable insight into what it’s like to navigate dialysis, mental health challenges, and life-saving surgery at such a young age.

Her journey complements that of Marie-Pierre Schryburt, an ARPKD patient who received her kidney transplant shortly after transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Together, their stories shed light on the unique challenges - and resilience - of young people living with kidney disease.

My Kidney Transplant Journey

Hi, my name is Courtney Gibson. I’m 28 years old, and this is the story of how a complete stranger gave me a second chance at life.

When I was born, doctors told my parents I would never walk, talk, or sit up on my own - and that I likely wouldn’t live past the age of 11. I was born with a form of spina bifida called sacral agenesis. But I’ve defied all of those expectations. I’ve talked, sat up, and even learned to walk using prosthetics.

One thing the doctors did get right, though, was that I’d probably need a kidney transplant one day.

Throughout my childhood, I had regular ultrasounds and checkups on my bladder and kidneys, though I didn’t really understand why. Then in November 2011, when I was 15, I went to Bloorview in Toronto for one of my usual appointments. But that visit was anything but routine.

The Hardest Year

After my ultrasound, the doctor walked in and told us we had to get to SickKids immediately - they were already expecting us. I was shocked. My mom was devastated. We were both terrified. That day marked the start of the hardest year of my life.

At SickKids, we learned my kidneys were failing. I went from being a typical high school student learning about history and math to being the kid in the hospital learning about dialysis and organ failure. I was definitely going to need a kidney transplant.

First, I had to undergo major surgery to enlarge my bladder - otherwise, it could have damaged a new kidney. That surgery lasted 10.5 hours, and I nearly didn’t make it through. But after 104 days in hospital, I was finally stable enough to go home. I hadn’t seen my dog in over three months - I was so excited to finally be with her again.

Renal Delirium

Things stayed stable for a little while. But in the summer of 2012, I got heatstroke and became dangerously dehydrated. My parents had to drag me to McMaster Children’s Hospital. My kidney doctor, Dr. Arora, found I had an acute kidney injury, and my creatinine levels had skyrocketed. I was admitted to the ICU and started emergency hemodialysis.

Here’s a quick science detour: creatinine is a waste product that healthy kidneys remove. When your kidneys aren’t working, it builds up in your body. At really high levels, it can cause something called “renal delirium.” That happened to me. I had no idea where I was. I remember asking my mom to grab me a snack from the “cafeteria” right outside my room. But there was no cafeteria - it was just the nurses’ station. I truly believed it was real. I can’t even explain it.

Dialysis kept me alive, but it took a huge toll. I spent four hours in that chair, three times a week. I was completely drained. I had to leave school and fell even further behind. It wasn’t just boring or uncomfortable - some sessions were terrifying. I’ll never forget one in particular: I started vomiting uncontrollably, nearly passed out, and heard someone yell “code blue.” My nurse shouted, “Stay with me, Courtney!” over and over. I was 16. I was scared. I felt completely alone. None of my friends could understand what I was going through. Who could?

A New Life

And then, on the morning of November 23, 2012, everything changed.

My mom got a call from my nephrologist at SickKids, Dr. Harvey. There had been a tragic accident, and a kidney had become available - for me.

Now, I was 16 and had been waiting for months, but in true teenage fashion, I almost said no - because I was supposed to go to my very first Justin Bieber concert that weekend! (Don’t judge me!) Dr. Harvey promised that if I followed my post-op recovery plan, she’d find a way to get me to that concert. So I agreed.

We lived in Burlington at the time, but we got to SickKids in record time. After a final round of dialysis and several hours of blood cross-matching to make sure it was a perfect match, I was wheeled into the OR the next morning.

Six hours later, I woke up with a brand-new kidney - and an energy I had never felt before. And yes... I made it to that Justin Bieber concert. Just seven days later!

Life Since Transplant

It’s now been 12 years since my transplant. I’ve graduated high school, completed a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology of Human Behaviour from McMaster University, and - drumroll please - I was just accepted into a Master’s program in Child Life. I start this fall! Becoming a child life specialist has been my dream, and I’m so excited to help support children going through medical journeys like mine.

I also volunteer with the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP), a grassroots network of kidney transplant recipients and living kidney donors. We speak with patients who are on dialysis or waiting for transplant, sharing our stories and supporting them through it all. At TAP, we always say: “We know what you’re going through - because we’ve been there.”

Through TAP, I get to honour my donor’s life in the most meaningful way I can: by paying it forward. I live every day with gratitude for the person and family who said “yes” to organ donation in their time of tragedy. Because of them, I’m here - living a happy, healthy, fulfilling life with amazing friends, family, and a future.

I may never find the words to fully thank my donor and their loved ones. But I hope that by living life to the fullest - and by helping others facing kidney disease - I can keep their legacy alive and inspire others to become organ donors too.

The PKD Foundation of Canada asked Courtney a few more questions about her transplant journey, that could help other young people going through the same thing.

Was there anything that gave you hope, or got you through the tough times when you were on dialysis?

When I started dialysis was also about the time that I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, so my mental health was really not great; dialysis didn’t help 😂. But I clung to my family and tried distracting myself with movies and music a lot of the time. While I don’t play any instruments and prefer that only my shower hears me sing, music has always been a huge part of keeping me sane—even now, the majority of my chosen family (my friends), I met through music, as my best friend is a local country musician!

Looking back from your current age, what do you wish you could say to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self: “I know you’re scared and exhausted, but I promise that you’re going to want to push through all of that fear and exhaustion because, Court, you’ve made it to where you want to be. You’re going to become that child life specialist!! We made it!!”

What would you say (or do you say) to other children and youth who are facing kidney failure, dialysis, or transplant?

I actually haven’t had the opportunity to speak with any children or youth facing kidney struggles, but if I did, I think I would share with them different coping strategies to get through the scary times and remind them of the strength they have within themselves to push through this and come out on the other side—where they get to live the rest of their lives! I would also remind them how important it is to take their medications, especially after transplant!!

Do you still have hard days since your transplant, and what helps you get through them?

I absolutely do! There are many things I struggle with mentally—some things related to my kidney disease, like only being alive because someone else died, and some things not related to my kidney at all, like just the overall stress of life 😂. But I do have a metaphorical toolbox of resources, as I call it, to help me through. Watching a funny movie or TV show, listening to music, and of course, turning to my support system of family and friends!

Courtney Gibson, July 2025

More

• Watch a video of Courtney sharing her transplant story on YouTube.
• Facing transplant and looking for a Transplant Ambassador to talk to? Find Transplant Ambassadors like Courtney here.
• Read ARPKD patient Marie-Pierre Schryburt's kidney transplant story here.

 

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