RISK! Podcast: Making the Chain, Revisited

Host: Kevin Allison
Guest: Christine Gentry
Date: December 4, 2025

Overview

In this special episode of RISK!, host Kevin Allison revisits one of the show's most celebrated stories—Christine Gentry’s “Making the Chain.” Originally told in 2016, Christine’s story details her journey as a kidney donor, and the ripple effect of her decision. Now, almost a decade later, Kevin and Christine reflect on the experience, discuss its impact, share updates about the people and relationships involved, and dive deep into the emotional, ethical, and personal resonance of live organ donation and vulnerability in storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christine's Kidney Donation Story

• Triggering Moment: Christine spots a Facebook post from her old friend Julia in 2012, announcing her dire need for a kidney donor ([03:02]).
• Initial Attempt: Christine volunteers but is found incompatible with Julia. They enter the National Kidney Swap Registry, where prospective donors and recipients are algorithmically matched into exchange chains.
• Computerized Chain: At the last moment, Julia finds a match elsewhere. Christine, deeply moved by the experience and the powerful effect the donation had on Julia’s life—culminating in Julia having a child—decides later to donate her kidney as a "Good Samaritan" to a stranger ([05:58]).
• Setting Off a Chain: This unconditional offer allows the algorithm to create an extensive donation chain; her kidney sets off a series of 16 transplants, later expanding to 56 surgeries, pulling 28 people off waiting lists ([19:11]).

“I was looking at this child, and I was like, oh, my God. This new life and every life that will be touched by it only exists because someone was willing to donate their kidney. And I just couldn't... justify not doing it for a stranger.” —Christine Gentry ([06:37])

2. Emotional Struggles & Facing Fear

• Panic and Isolation: As the surgery nears, Christine feels alone, facing panic attacks and anxiety about the risks—she distracts herself with chores and runs into tailor Brunhilde ([09:35]).
• Brunhilde’s Support: In a vulnerable moment, Brunhilde hugs Christine and offers the advice, “You must remember to be one with the pain.” ([12:03])
• Support Network Activation: The interaction inspires Christine to reach out and share her plans more openly, receiving an outpouring of love and encouragement from her community ([12:13]).

3. The Complicated Relationship with Her Mother

• Caretaker Dilemma: Christine’s mother, once vibrant but now suffering from alcoholism and negativity, is chosen as Christine’s post-surgery caretaker, despite deep personal misgivings ([07:57]).
• Transformation: In the hospital, her mother exceeds Christine’s expectations—remaining sober, supportive, encouraging recovery, and ultimately helping to restore a broken mother-daughter dynamic ([18:13]).
• Breakthrough Moment: During a difficult recovery episode, Christine’s mother comforts her through pain and doubt, reassuring her, “You won’t, Christine. It’ll get so much better.” ([18:13])

“She did not leave my side. She slept in the hospital room with me. She didn't have a drop of alcohol or utter one complaint for five days.” —Christine Gentry ([18:13])

4. Aftermath and Impact of Donation

• Recovery and Support: Friends bring food, students send cards, and Christine finds community in her vulnerability ([18:43]).
• The Chain Keeps Growing: Months after her surgery, Christine is notified that the donation chain has grown: “It’s 56 surgeries long. Your one decision has pulled 28 people off the wait list.” ([19:11])
• Gala Invitation: She is invited to speak at a National Kidney Registry gala, bringing her mother as her guest ([19:44]).

5. Reflection and Revisiting the Story

• Re-experiencing Emotions: Christine shares that listening back, the events and especially the hospital moments remain powerful and “vivid,” even years later ([24:00]).
• Updates on the Chain: Christine has since met her “direct recipient” and other members of her donation chain at special hospital-organized meetups. She recounts the moving story of Henrietta, who was notified of her new kidney while visiting her son’s grave ([26:24]).
• Enduring Ripple Effects: The story has directly inspired listeners—including some who later donated kidneys themselves ([36:06]).

6. Honesty About Risks and Sacrifice

• Both Christine and Kevin emphasize the importance of not glossing over the physical and emotional challenges of kidney donation:
  • Surgery and recovery are “awful, so hard;” the pain is vividly described.
  • Not all donation stories have happy endings; sometimes surgeries fail or recipients do not survive long-term.
• Broader Application: Acts of love and service carry risk, and even the best intentions can have uncertain outcomes ([29:16]).

“Any act of love... there is some riskiness to it, usually, you know. You have to just own that it might not be as happy an ending as your story, but that's part of the beauty of it, too.” —Kevin Allison ([29:20])

7. Revelations about Storytelling and Legacy

• Narrative’s Power: Christine and Kevin discuss storytelling’s power to inspire action, process experience, and shape personal and public truth.
• The Chain as a Living Story: The chain continues to have new developments, and Christine observes, “Who I was in 2016 is very accurately captured by this story.” ([33:24])
• Family Impact: Christine’s act and story reverberate through her family; recently, her aunt contacted her considering kidney donation, prompted by Christine’s example ([34:46]).

8. Physical Long-Term Effects?

• Christine reports “zero percent” impact on her health from the donation, aside from needing to use Tylenol instead of other painkillers ([38:39]).

9. Symbols and Commemoration

• On her “kidneyversary,” Christine received a tattoo designed by a student: a sprial of the numbers 1–8, symbolizing her first 8 recipients, placed over her incision scar ([39:52]).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Christine (on why donate):
  • “I just couldn't justify not doing it for a stranger.” ([06:43])
• Brunhilde’s advice:
  • “You must remember to be one with the pain.” ([12:03])
• Christine (in hospital, to her mother):
  • “I don't want to regret this, Mama. I really don't want to regret this.” ([18:13])
  • Mother: “You won't. You won't, Christine. It'll get so much better.” ([18:13])
• On her mom’s transformation:
  • “She did not leave my side. She slept in the hospital room with me. She didn't have a drop of alcohol or utter one complaint for five days.” ([18:13])
• News from National Kidney Registry:
  • “Your one decision has pulled 28 people off of the wait list.” ([19:27])
• On the meaning of the story:
  • “This story is not really about a kidney donation. At the heart of it, it's about my mom.” ([31:20])
• On meeting a chain recipient:
  • “She told me later that it was like winning the lottery. But you didn't know you'd bought a ticket.” ([26:46])

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:02 | Christine recounts seeing the Facebook post and jumping into action | | 06:43 | The inspiration from Julia’s transformation and why Christine donates | | 09:35 | Panic and the emotional lead-up to surgery | | 11:34 | Supportive encounter with tailor Brunhilde | | 12:03 | Brunhilde’s key advice | | 14:21 | Visualization exercise (the haven by the fountain) | | 18:13 | Christine’s mother’s support in the hospital (pivotal scene) | | 19:11 | Call from National Kidney Registry; the chain’s remarkable growth | | 22:47 | Reflection on telling the story while still healing | | 26:24 | The story of Henrietta, a recipient in the chain | | 29:20 | Discussion of real risks and uncertain outcomes | | 31:20 | "At the heart of it, it's about my mom." | | 34:46 | Family ripple effect—Christine’s aunt considers donation | | 36:06 | Listeners inspired to donate by the story | | 38:39 | Update: Christine’s health after the donation | | 39:52 | The “kidneyversary” tattoo and commemorating the story |

Flow, Tone & Final Impressions

• The episode is deeply human, embracing vulnerability, laughter, and sorrow. Kevin and Christine both lean into candid honesty—championing the importance of telling the whole truth, embracing both comedy and pain.
• The story’s ultimate message is about meaningful impact, the unexpected power of individual action, and the intricacies of relationships—particularly Christine’s with her mother.
• Storytelling is lauded as both a personal processing tool and a catalyst for real-world change; audience members have been moved to donate themselves.
• Christine’s story, though grounded in a specific, extraordinary act, is universalized as a meditation on risk, connection, and the ripple effects of love and courage.

For Listeners:

This episode offers a compelling, multifaceted meditation on altruism, vulnerability, and the transformative power of telling our stories—reminding us how one act, bravely chosen and honestly shared, can change the lives of many.