All of our Team Members are passionate about our lifesaving mission. Anyone who supports increasing organ donation can join Team Transplant!
Some of our most inspiring Team Members are those who not only support our mission, but are living proof that you can lead an active, healthy lifestyle after giving or receiving a transplant!
Meet some of these inspiring people who rode with Team Transplant 2011!
When Vienna was born in 2004, her parents were ecstatic. But their joy soon turned to worry when they found out their new baby girl had bilary artesia, a defect in her liver’s bile ducts. Doctors tried surgery to treat the condition but it failed. When Vienna was five months old, her parents learned that she would need a liver transplant to survive.
Luckily, just two months later, Vienna received the Gift of Life from a two year old boy. Because of this gift, Vienna is now a healthy, bright, bubbly, active little girl and a proud big sister to her siblings Millie and Paulie. At the ripe age of four, Vienna traveled to the U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh where she took home the gold medal in bowling and the silver medal in the Track & Field Championship’s 25 Meter Dash, also competing in swimming and cycling.
This year will be Vienna’s second time on Team Transplant. She missed the ride last year for a special trip to Disneyland. Vienna, age six, Millie, age four, and Paulie, age three, will ride in the Shimano Youth Series with Team Transplant 2011.
Parents Paul and Traci marvel at their daughter each day. “We are so grateful to our donor’s family,” said Traci of Vienna’s donor. “Because of his gift, I get to kiss a miracle every day.”
Eric and his younger brother Michael were always outdoor enthusiasts. Growing up in New Hampshire, there were always trails to be explored, mountains to hike, and cliffs to climb. At a young age, Mike was diagnosed with a degenerative retinal disorder called retinitis pigmentosa. His vision slowly declined over the years, and at the age of 14 he was also diagnosed with a kidney disorder. Transplant was always a possibility, but it was assumed it would be much later in life.
In 2007, at the age of 25, Michael’s kidney function fell below 25%, and it was time for transplant or dialysis. His mother immediately stepped forward, but was eliminated from being a donor following the final test. After researching living kidney donation, and learning that donors can live perfectly healthy lives following surgery, the decision was clear to Eric. He volunteered to be the donor, and after a simple blood test showed they were a match, he proceeded through the remaining tests. Within months he and Michael were in surgery together.
Over three years later, Mike and Eric are just as active as they were before the surgery. Mike is an aspiring writer and continues to hike and rock climb in NH. Eric has moved to Denver where he enjoys hiking, biking, and skiing. This year, Eric will join Team Transplant and ride 100 miles to raise money and awareness for organ and tissue donation, so that others like Michael can enjoy the Gift of Life!
Michael’s story, “Kidney Transplant: My Family’s Journey” has been published, and can be read here.
February 25, 2010 was a day that changed Sean’s life forever; it was the day he couldn’t catch his breath. Sean had been fine the day before so he went to his doctor where tests revealed an enlarged heart. The doctor told him to go to the hospital for follow up tests, but before his appointment he had to be rushed to the E.R. After several admissions and discharges to the hospital over the following weeks, he was transferred to University of Colorado Hospital and an hour later was informed that he required a heart transplant.
The following days were some of the worst of Sean’s life. His condition worsened and a heart pump was put in as a bridge to the transplant. For the next six weeks Sean was an inactive candidate on the waiting list while his body healed through medicine and cardio therapy. Finally, on May 4th, Sean was actively listed for a transplant. Two weeks to the day later, he got the call while playing putt-putt with a friend. They rushed to the hospital so quickly that they arrived before the heart. At 9 o’clock p.m., Sean went into surgery to receive the gift of life.
Due to complications with his and the donor’s aortas, Sean was in surgery for 36 hours straight. He awoke three days later to the sound of his mother’s voice telling him how strong he was. The doctors monitored his condition for 15 additional days, and on June 4th, he went home. Though he couldn’t participate, the next day he went to downtown Denver to watch his friends walk in the Heart Walk.
“In this experience I have learned to overcome challenges and to set goals for myself,” Sean relates. “I will tell anybody who has to go through a similar situation to overcome it and to not back down.”
In the year following his transplant, Sean has made great physical progress through cardio therapy. He will ride 34 miles with Team Transplant.
Steve rides with Team Transplant in honor of his daughter Kelsey, a three-time kidney recipient. Just after high school, Kelsey was diagnosed with medullary cystic kidney disease, a hereditary disorder that results in gradual and permanent loss of kidney function. At about 12% remaining kidney function, Kelsey began four-hour sessions of dialysis three times per week while the search for a compatible donor began. Steve was a match. He donated a kidney to Kelsey in 2007, and at first, it was successful. Unfortunately, her body rejected her new kidney, and Kelsey had to go back on dialysis. A family friend stepped forward and became her second living donor. Once again, the transplant failed. But despite the setbacks—and with amazing courage and a positive attitude—Kelsey didn’t lose hope. In 2009, a woman named Kaye read about Kelsey’s plight in the newspaper.
“If it was one of my daughters, I would want somebody to help her,” Kaye said. “It was all meant to be.” She contacted the family and evaluations began. Kelsey and Kaye underwent a successful transplant at Mayo Clinic in July 2009. They are both doing well.
Steve and his sub team will ride to honor Kelsey and Kaye, but also to prove that Steve leads a normal, healthy, active life even with only one kidney. As Steve says, “A living donor can go forward and do those things they’ve loved and enjoyed their entire life, plus perhaps be an inspiration to others who might consider becoming a living donor for a friend, relative, or even a complete stranger.”
Anne, Kidney and Pancreas Recipient
Anne is a 6 ½ year kidney-pancreas recipient and an avid community activist for organ and tissue donation. Years ago, even with her Type-I diabetes and high blood pressure, she and her husband Kevin rode in the Seattle to Portland double-century together three times. But after nearly 40 years of struggling with those diseases, Anne’s kidneys failed and she needed a transplant. After making her way up through the transplant list and four disheartening mismatches, Anne finally received the Gift of Life in 2004.
“My pancreas transplant changed my life,” Anne says, referring to the fact that she no longer has diabetes, “but my kidney transplant saved my life.” Since her transplant, Anne has devoted much of her time to educating the community about the importance of organ and tissue donation. “My transplant gave me my life back. I’ve been able to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary, to celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday with family, and to watch my only daughter graduate from college.”
Anne is riding with Team Transplant for the third year in a row, this time on the 62-mile course. She says, “My enthusiasm is in honor of my donor who saved my life and made it possible for me to even attempt this ride.” In July, she and Kevin will ride the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic again, a goal she set for herself when she joined the first-annual Team Transplant in 2009!
One day in 2005, Brian learned that his girlfriend’s mother, Elin, needed a kidney transplant due to polycystic kidney disease. His girlfriend, Kathryn, had the same genetic disorder and couldn’t be a donor. Brian knew that his blood type was compatible with Elin’s and that there was a chance he would be a match. So later that day, Brian decided to get tested to donate his kidney.
“Brian is an incredible person with a heart of gold,” said Kathryn. “He loves me very much, and would do just about anything for me. But I had no idea that he would donate a kidney to my mother.”
“I felt like this was something meaningful that I could do, and I just had a gut feeling it would work out,” Brian says. So on September 13, 2005, Brian gave Elin a kidney.
A couple of months after the surgery, Brian proposed to Kathryn. They were married nearly one year after the transplant, and now have a 16-month-old son, Andrew, who has the chance to know his Grandma Elin.
Despite only having one kidney, Brian has become even more active. He skis regularly during winter and has also raced in the Winter Park Mountain Bike Race Series and the 24 Hours of Moab mountain race. This year Brian and his team will ride in the 24 Hours of E-Rock mountain bike race.
Brian says he is no super hero in giving a kidney to his now mother-in-law. “The choice was simple and I would do it again.”
Tim was diagnosed with liver cancer December 31, 2008. The New Year did not look promising for Tim, but he soon found hope. The cancer had been caught early enough to allow him to be placed on the transplant list.
During the following months, Tim and his family had many ups and downs. In order to prepare for the transplant, Tim committed to getting into shape and staying as healthy and strong as possible. He dusted off the old bike and began riding again. Tim went through chemoembolization treatments to keep the cancer from spreading. He felt he was now riding to save his life.
On June 12, 2009 Tim got a liver from a deceased donor. With fantastic support from staff at University of Colorado Hospital, his friends and family, he made a great recovery. Just six weeks after the transplant, Tim completed the Donor Dash 5K and was back on his bike three months later.
Tim’s friend soon talked him into going to Austin, Texas to ride in the Livestrong Challenge. He planned and completed two rides for 2010, a rainy 45 mile ride in Seattle and a 65 mile ride in Austin. Afterward, while Tim felt good about his support of the Livestrong Foundation, he knew there was another group he had to ride for. Without his donor, the cancer would have taken his life.
“Each day, I’m inspired by stories of donors that have changed lives.” Tim says, “I’m now living proof that organ donation not only saves lives, but improves lives.”
This year, Tim is raising the bar. On June 5th he will ride with Team Transplant to complete 100 miles at the Subaru Elephant Rock with his brother James. It will be his first century ride since high school. On October 15th Tim will head back to Austin, this time to complete the 90 mile Livestrong Challenge.
The best assignment Danny ever had with the Denver Police Department was working downtown Denver as a bike cop. Danny loves bicycling, so combining it with his job was heaven on earth.
Prior to 2010, Danny had never given much thought to living donation. But last summer, he was contacted by Ed, a fellow detective, and learned that Ed had polycystic kidney disease. Ed related that he would soon be on dialysis, which meant premature retirement. Ed’s only alternative was a transplant.
Danny empathized with Ed; being forced to retire early from a career he loved would destroy him. Feeling curious, Danny began to research. He learned that kidney recipients tend to do better if they can avoid dialysis and if they have a living donor. He then researched living donation from the donor’s perspective. In Danny’s opinion, the question became, “Why would I NOT be a living donor?” To him there simply was no reason, and he proceeded to test as a potential donor with newfound enthusiasm.
Danny was selected as the best match for Ed and a surgery date was set. Because of their occupation’s reputation for “brotherhood,” the story attracted local media attention.
Some thought Danny’s donation was a risky proposition, that maybe he was unnecessarily gambling with his health and life. He wanted to convey that living donation can be routine, so—just five days after surgery—Danny went on a bike ride. During his first ride with one kidney, he took a self portrait on his camera phone. He sent the picture to family and friends as proof we can lead healthy, active lives before, during, and after living donation.
Danny will ride 62 miles with Team Transplant.
Polycystic kidney disease runs in Carolyn’s family. PKD forced her father to be discharged from the Army in 1946 and caused the death of her grandmother in 1952. Her brother and sister were also affected. When Carolyn’s niece Megan was born in the 80s, she was diagnosed with PKD almost immediately. Not much hope was given to Megan’s parents; they were told to take her home and love her.
Megan grew, almost like a normal child, except with high blood pressure. By high school, the lethargy and fatigue had slowly and insidiously started. Megan still did well in high school, started college, and moved away from home.
In 2002, Carolyn visited her brother and his family in Detroit for Christmas. Megan, a college student at the time, had been to the doctor a few days before and was informed that it was time for her to go on the transplant list. Carolyn thought, “Why go on a list if there is someone who can step up and donate now?” She talked with the transplant coordinator and made arrangements to begin testing at a facility at home. Carolyn was a match and on January 14, 2004, Megan received Carolyn’s kidney.
Megan has not stopped since. She came to Colorado to visit four months later, 20 pounds heavier, lively and ready to have fun. Carolyn relates,
“To see someone’s life transformed from one of fatigue, disinterest, and lethargy due to renal failure to a life full of joy, activities, vacations, college degrees, gainful employment, engagement, and marriage plans—how could you not contribute to that? There are so many things most of us take for granted that a person with chronic kidney disease is just not interested in. To be a part of that kind of change? I wish I could do it again!”
Carolyn will ride 62 miles with Team Transplant in honor of Megan.
Riding with Team Transplant at Subaru Elephant Rock is a personal victory for Bryan, for it was now six years ago—at Elephant Rock—when he realized that a lifelong kidney disease had finally taken its toll on his health and was threatening his life.
Before needing a transplant, Bryan averaged 3,000 miles on his bike every year, even with reduced kidney function. But as time progressed, his health began to decline.
“I knew I was truly sick when I rode at Elephant Rock in 2005 and couldn’t keep my normal pace. Though I pushed hard, I just couldn’t keep up. I felt so sick that I cut my ride short.”
Bryan went to his family and friends to find a living donor but didn’t find a viable match. Feeling desperate, he consented when a friend asked to post his search for a living donor on a website. It was only a few days later when Bryan’s hero, Kevin, saw the posting and agreed to be tested. Believe it or not, Kevin was a match, and on July 7, 2005, Kevin donated his kidney to Bryan—a man he had previously never met.
Bryan will ride 100 miles with Team Transplant in celebration of the sixth anniversary of his transplant.
Russ, Anonymous Living Kidney Donor
Plenty of emergency workers have saved lives, though not in quite the same fashion that Russ has. An engineer paramedic and member of the West Metro Fire Protection District, Russ was touched a few years back when he talked to an organ recipient on a call. The message he received from the recipient, that “his life has been given back,” was something that Russ couldn’t ignore.
In 2009 Russ contacted Alliance for Paired Donation. He was then put in touch with University of Colorado Hospital about becoming an anonymous kidney donor.
Many questioned Russ’s decision to donate to someone he didn’t know. People challenged his commitment to those closer to him with questions like, “What if a family member needs your kidney?” or “What if you die or need a kidney later in life?” Additionally, complications from the surgery could have prevented a return to the fire service. None of that mattered to Russ; what mattered was that his donation could save a life then. And the fact that more than 85,000 people were waiting for kidneys alarmed him.
In 2010, Russ completed the tests and was paired with an anonymous recipient. Their transplant was September 28th and was a success. Shortly after the surgery, Russ was approached with the prospect of meeting the recipient. He took the opportunity without hesitation. The meeting was overwhelming for both Russ and the 22-year-old recipient, Justin. They forged a bond for life.
Russ continues to be an ambassador for living donation.
“There is more work to be done, like awareness,” notes Russ. He will ride the 25-mile off-road course with Team Transplant.
Steve was a toddler when he almost died of kidney failure, but, through some sort of miracle, he lived. Steve went on to live a very healthy life full of sports, travel, family, and a successful career as a lawyer. His childhood illness became a distant memory.
Unfortunately, around 58 years later, his kidneys stopped functioning again. Steve found out that he’d need another miracle to survive—a transplant.
After several difficult months of considering his only options—going on dialysis while waiting for a deceased donor, flying to another country to purchase an organ on the black market, or receiving a kidney from his oldest son Gregg—he finally agreed to allow Gregg to be his donor. While taking his son’s kidney was a difficult decision for Steve, a good family friend reminded him that he would be a better father to his son alive than if he were dead. Their transplant was a great success and their bond is stronger than ever before.
As Steve says, his mother always told him that he was meant to do something special with his life. It was only after his kidney failure and transplant journey that he found out what she meant. He founded the American Transplant Foundation soon after his transplant to aid the transplant community and fellow patients. He’s riding seven miles with Team Transplant as proof that his transplant gave him back his healthy, active lifestyle.
More stories to come!
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