SCC Surgical Technology student is taking Spring break to donate her kidney to a stranger | SCC

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    SCC Surgical Technology student is taking Spring break to donate her kidney to a stranger

    Published on Feb 23, 2024

    SCC Student Spotlight: Cherish Strunk, a soon to be grad from the Surg Tech program. More info in article.Cherish Strunk is a 25-year-old young woman and a Russell County High School graduate pursuing her degree at Somerset Community College (SCC) to ultimately become a Surgical Technologist at the Surgery center in her community where she currently works.

    As she is due to graduate in May, she has some experience serving doctors in the operating room.

    Strunk is donating a kidney to a Kentucky man with young grandchildren, someone she had never met before this unexpected journey began in late January.

    "I've always taken notice of the ads you see for people needing organs, but this one was different," Strunk said.

    Strunk had a mutual friend with the gentleman needing a kidney on Facebook. She saw the posted ad shared by her friend from the University of Kentucky Healthcare Center while doing her usual social media scroll.

    "I just felt something," Strunk reflected. "I just had this feeling we would be a match and that I could help. I saw his picture and that he had young grandchildren and knew I just had to help if I could."

    The process proceeded quickly.

    "The feeling you get when you match… It's indescribable," Strunk explained.

    As soon as they matched, she was in contact with the recipient, his wife, and his family through messaging on social media.

    About a week before the operation, Strunk will be meeting the recipient of her kidney and his family for the first time.

    "I know it's going to be an emotional moment," Strunk said.

    As a trained surgical technician, Strunk has watched the procedure that she will be having.

    "I am nervous," Strunk admitted. "It's also mixed with excitement to be able to do this for this man and his family."

    While her peers in the classroom at SCC will be enjoying Spring break, Strunk will be recovering from surgery. The recommended healing time is six weeks, but she is taking 11 days, getting right back into the classroom and finishing up her clinicals to officially get across that finish line in May.

    "My classmates were shocked when I told them what I was doing," Strunk said. "My instructors and Clinical advisors are understanding and plan on giving me chances to rest when I need to. I am confident I was meant to do this and graduate in May. It's going to feel so good to finally finish this program."

    This is just one of the great things our students at SCC are doing and we are proud to support and advise them through their journeys to a better life.

    Catch a glimpse into student life on our SCC campuses and centers by following us on Facebook and learn more about programs like Surgical Technology on the SCC website.