Showcase: Madison Young

Madison Young has been playing volleyball most of her life. But in 2015 just before her senior year in high school, the star player suddenly became ill and was diagnosed with kidney disease. She needed a transplant. Luckily her mom, Sandy, was a match, and on Nov. 23, 2015, Sandy gifted one of her kidneys to her daughter.

Five years later, Madison continues to do the things she loves: play volleyball and pursue a career in nursing. Currently a senior at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Madison studies earth and environmental science. She plans to apply to nursing school this fall. She became a licensed emergency medical technician in July 2019, worked on an ambulance for a while, then moved to the immediate care department at Northwestern during the pandemic.

Madison also plays club volleyball at UIC and joined Team Illinois in 2018 in hopes of competing at the 2020 (now 2021) Donate Life Transplant Games. You can read more about Madison’s transplant journey here.