One Kidney Transplant, Two Lives Saved
Since November of 2023, Shaler Area High School student Deven Wilson and his family have been waiting for a medical miracle. In February of 2026, they finally received one. And along the way, their story helped save another woman’ s life.
Shortly before Thanksgiving in 2023, Deven suddenly went from playing in an all-day volleyball tournament to coughing up blood and being admitted to intensive care. After weeks in the ICU, doctors determined that Deven has a rare autoimmune disorder( GPA vasculitis) and a secondary disease( atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome) that was destroying his kidneys.
Although Deven would need a kidney transplant neither his parents, his twin sister Kori, nor his older siblings Rylee and Braydon were a good donor match. To find a donor, the Wilsons would have to depend on the kindness of a stranger. And in October of 2025, that almost happened, until the story took a twist.
When Hampton resident Jessica Camacho-Cook learned about Deven’ s situation, her process of determining whether she would be a good donor match revealed a surprise: a cyst on her left kidney. Not only could Jessica not donate it to Deven, but she needed to have it removed to prevent any cancer from growing. Fortunately, her surgery went well and she was able to celebrate Christmas at home with her son.
And then, just a few months later, it was finally Deven’ s turn for a miracle. On February 15th, the Wilsons were informed that a deceased kidney donor had been successfully identified as a match for Deven. A day later, Deven underwent successful kidney transplant surgery.
Now dialysis-free, Deven is once again healthy enough to play volleyball. While his conditions still need to be managed, he’ s working to rebuild his strength and stamina with the hope of eventually entering the police academy.
“ Before the transplant, so much of our future felt uncertain. Recovery wasn’ t completely smooth in the beginning. There were some tougher days, but then it seemed like someone flipped a switch. Deven’ s energy came back, his appetite returned, and he was becoming himself again.
By the end of April, he was back at school. He got to play volleyball, go to prom, and walk at graduation, which were all huge milestones that we didn’ t know we would get to witness and enjoy. His new thing is pickleball, and he LOVES doing this with his friends. Watching Deven go from being so incredibly sick to embracing life again is nothing short of amazing! Just four and a half months after Deven’ s kidney transplant, we are enjoying seeing the new normal emerge. What’ s next is still in the planning stages, one step at a time. But we are so grateful and blessed for all the support Deven has received. He is a strong and special young man, and his future is bright,” said Deven’ s father Robb.
The Wilsons realize just how lucky his situation turned out to be— not only for Deven, but also for Jessica.
Approximately 90,000 Americans just like Deven currently need kidney transplants, and the donor screening process can reveal any underlying issues that need immediate intervention, just like Jessica’ s. If you’ re interested in becoming a living kidney or partial liver donor, you can learn more at livingdonorreg. upmc. com.
34 | Shaler Area School District