James Govan
South Mecklenburg High School
What a joy to celebrate this young man’s graduation from high school! Most kids experience challenges and setbacks as they navigate their school years, but James Govan certainly faced more than his share.
James was born with a chronic kidney disease. He has been hospitalized and had countless surgeries as a baby and throughout his young life. His mother, Kim Buie, says “God told her to stop counting” when it came to the surgeries. At five years old, instead of playing outside with his friends, he had to lie in bed for 12 hours a day hooked up to a dialysis machine. The doctors at Levine Children’s Hospital knew that dialysis could not be a permanent solution, and eventually James was placed on a kidney transplant list. After more than a year of waiting, James received a new kidney in July 2012, when he was six years old.
After the transplant, it was still a difficult road, with many more surgeries and hospital stays. But James is a strong and resilient young man. He had his mom and his siblings there for him every day – and he had CIS supporting him, too.
James’ initial connection to CIS came through his older brother and sister, who were both in CIS with Site Coordinator Lisa Carter at Eastway Middle School. Ms. Carter got to know the family and knew James when he was a baby. James would eventually enroll at Shamrock Gardens Elementary – where Ms. Carter had transferred (from Eastway) – it was meant to be! When James was having dialysis waiting for his transplant, and when he was recovering from the transplant surgery, Ms. Carter visited him often in the hospital.
James’ mother added that she and her children built a strong bond with Ms. Carter over the years and it remains to this day. “She would come to the hospital and keep us all encouraged and always had helpful resources or information, whether for James or for me as a parent,” she said.
James recently reflected on his memories from this time, too, before and after the transplant. “What I remember most about CIS is that I felt like I had a separate family away from home,” said James. “I had people like Ms. Carter who supported and believed in me.”
After Shamrock, James attended Eastway Middle School, but in the 7th grade, he had three more major surgeries. During 7th and 8th grades, he needed to be home-schooled — and then the pandemic hit as he was about to enter high school. For health and safety reasons, he did his schooling at home for another two years.
But as James began his junior year in high school, he was ready at last to attend school in person again to finish his high school career. Ms. Buie immediately reached out to Ms. Carter to get James connected to CIS at South Mecklenburg High School. “She made sure we got James enrolled in CIS there, so James would have strong support at the school during his final two years of high school,” said Ms. Buie.
And now James is a graduate in the Class of 2024 — graduating on time with his class, 12 years after his kidney transplant. What an amazing accomplishment for one who has been through so much! He is clearly a smart and determined young man who never gives up.
Just last week, James began classes at Central Piedmont Community College, where he plans to pursue a degree in Pharmacy Technology. We are beyond proud and excited for James’ future. Your CIS family is still rooting for you, James – you’ve got this!