I have been a cheerleader, dancer, and performer since I made the varsity cheerleading squad in 1995. I have always loved being active and using my energy to motivate, inspire, and cheer for others. I have been a youth cheer coach and dance team choreographer and I participated in a dance team in college. I’ve … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Shawni!
Before I decided to donate my spare, I played hockey 5 days a week, ran at least 1 half marathon a quarter, and played softball every Sunday. I have always been an athlete and I never wanted to change my lifestyle. October 2017, I saw a post in one of my Christian running groups on … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Brandie!
I’m not a very superstitious person or one that really believes everything happens for a reason, but every once in a while it just feels like things are falling into the place they belong. One evening around Halloween in 2018, my husband and I were living with my brother and his girlfriend while our new … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Ashlie!
Before my kidney donation, I was quite active. I was consistently running 2 to 3 miles per day and engaging in strength training, which has been a passion of mine since I was in college. I also participated in the BolderBoulder 10k every year. Actually, one of the things that I researched when I started … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Jose!
I was overweight and lived an unhealthy lifestyle throughout most of my adult years. In 2013, after hearing that my sister, Mae, was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, I decided it was time to make a change. Results from my first diet attempts were mixed, a series of trial and error while discovering what … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Dennis!
It all began after a run. I often “ran” into my aunt and uncle because they lived above me in our Chicago apartment building, but this time I wasn’t greeted with a very happy, “hello”. Panting and gassed, I tried my best to gather the information they relayed to me. “Did you hear about Liz?” … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Amy!
I never thought much about kidneys or organ donation. In fact, It was completely off my radar until we realized that my husband might have a gene mutation that inevitably leads to kidney disease. Nate, my husband, had two uncles with kidney disease who received transplants from their siblings. It was believed that only men … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Amy!
This is a big moment for KDA! We have an official Board of Directors!! We had more than 50 people express interest and eventually narrowed the pool down to 7 people that make up the inaugural Kidney Donor Athletes Board of Directors. I am sincerely grateful for all the people that applied, voiced their hopes … Continue reading Time to Meet the Kidney Donor Athlete Board of Directors!
Hey all you Kidney Donor Athletes, here’s an opportunity you might have some interest in. Our very own Patty Graham started a One Kidney Club in Colorado, a group of kidney donors who meet roughly once a month for a fun social happy hour gathering. Word spread from Denver, and One Kidney Clubs have … Continue reading One Kidney Clubs! Do You Want to Start One?
As a youth and young adult, I faced some significant health challenges. Throughout, I always thought of myself as an athlete, but I didn’t have exposure to any particular sport, and I didn’t know where I fit in to the athlete community. In college, I learned about triathlon and immediately felt a connection to the … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Sarah!
