Courtney Cox
- Director, Mentoring Program
- Living Kidney Donor
Courtney’s path to living kidney donation began when she was a teacher. While teaching sixth grade, she learned that the teenage son of a fellow teacher was facing kidney failure and needed a transplant. Courtney was already familiar with kidney disease because her own young son had undergone aggressive treatment for Wilm’s Tumor, including having parts of both kidneys removed. Because of that experience, she had spent years learning about living donation and what it would require.
When Courtney’s daughter, then in middle school, came home wanting to donate her own kidney, Courtney’s decision was made. She did the testing and was a match.
The transplant was delayed for several years, but Courtney eventually donated her kidney on June 20, 2023. Her colleague’s son soon received his transplant, and both recovered well.
Courtney describes donation as the most meaningful experience of her life. Her recovery was challenging, especially for someone used to high levels of physical activity, but she rebuilt her strength slowly and returned to the sports she loves. Just five months after surgery, she completed a marathon and has continued to compete in CrossFit, triathlons, running events, HYROX races, and Donor Games competitions.
Before becoming a mentor, Courtney built careers in education and nursing, developing strong communication, empathy, and advocacy skills. She is passionate about helping donors understand the process, navigate recovery, and feel supported every step of the way.
Courtney lives in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, Chad, their three children—Nevaeh, Elijah, and Jeremiah—and their dogs Luna, Oreo, and Geoffrey. She is a nurse who has worked in emergency medicine and oncology. Outside of work, she and her husband enjoy paddleboarding, biking, and taking their pups on long walks. She is very active in her church. She spends time mentoring young women and teaching Bible Studies. She does her best to simply live a life that reveals her love for God and her love for people.