Hello KDA!! My name is Megan Conner. I’m a 44 year old singer/songwriter, running coach and personal trainer based in Nashville, TN. Yeehaw! I recently became a kidney donor on January 16, 2025. In only a few short weeks my life has changed drastically…
Before getting into all things me, I have to say finding KDA a week before my donation really changed things for me. I wondered – could I run marathons after donation? Could I even run anymore or do anything endurance wise? Seeing all of the accomplishments and stories of donors and connecting with a few personally, eased my mind and made me even more excited for what I was heading into. I’m so excited to be joining Mark Scotch this year as one of his social media supports on one of the legs of The Organ Trail. This is yet another way I have connected with amazing people through KDA. So, thank you all for the work you do, the message you share and for continuing to be a support for donors and potential donors.
A bit more about me… In the past, I’ve done things like run the Boston Marathon twice, I’ve run 15 marathons and too many to count half marathons. I’ve competed in and placed in triathlon and duathlon, and musically, I’ve had songs recorded by country artists Rascal Flatts, Chris Young, Craig Morgan, Kylie Morgan, Danny Gokey and more. I’ve had songs on Superbowl 2024 and placed in college football on CBS and TV shows… All this is great, but giving a kidney to my friend Kim, who I originally met through endurance sports, has been the most rewarding and amazing thing I’ve ever done. It’s opened up a whole new world of incredible people that I almost feel like is a new family. It’s connected me with another human more than anything else has, and it’s given me a sense of purpose and gratitude for health and happiness.
My recipient, Kim, reached out to me in August of last year to see if I would possibly test and consider donating, and I didn’t hesitate to say yes, let’s go!! I had known Kim for about 10 years and we originally met through the running and fitness community. After the “let’s do this” and finding out I was a match for her, it was a whirlwind of tests and waiting, and finally the day after Christmas I was able to call her and tell her I could be her donor. I will never forget us both sobbing on Facetime knowing she would soon be relieved of dialysis and sickness. We had a date for surgery set only three weeks later! Surgery came and went and the recovery has been challenging at times, but it never compares to the feeling of knowing you helped save someone’s life. Pain and uncomfortableness is temporary, but to ease someone else’s suffering is invaluable.
In the months leading up to surgery, I ran 2 marathons in less than 3 weeks, a few half marathons, and soaked in all the activity while still having two kidneys. The surgery was a huge success, and the day after surgery for me ended up being a little rough because I’m not used to having so many medications. Once those eased up I was great. The first week I overdid it (which I wouldn’t recommend) which made the second week a bit harder, but once week three hit – I felt almost normal. Immediately after surgery, I knew I would do this again and again for others if I could.
I started running again 3 weeks after donation and am feeling stronger each day. I’m planning my first real race back will be a half marathon in April and at least one full marathon in the fall. (If not something more crazy! Stay tuned…). These days I take more pride in what my clients do rather than what I do, but I can’t wait to get back into some distance running. Only a little over a month post-donation and I feel no different with one kidney as I did with two kidneys!
I’m so grateful for KDA and being able to connect with other donor athletes and hopefully inspire other people along the way to become donors. I keep saying I don’t feel any different after giving a kidney – life doesn’t really change, but I’ve taken that back. It does indeed change – in so many ways, for the absolute best.
IG @meganconner
FB @meganconnerfitness
