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We have talked a few times to organ transplant recipients, but today we’ve got a great conversation with a kidney donor. I met Mike Kennedy while I was volunteering in June at the Leadville Heavy Half and Marathon. He had come out from Bethlehem PA, and as we got to talking, I found out about his organ donation. As you heard me describe earlier, it was a sloppy, snowy, muddy epic sort of weather day. But I was surprised when I saw Mike cross the Heavy Half finish line in 11th-place overall in 2:30:20! He was also third in the men’s 30-39 age group. This was less than two years after he donated one of his kidneys to an anonymous recipient to indirectly help his mother-in-law, who had been on dialysis for many years while waiting for a kidney transplant herself. A sort of give-a-penny, take-a-penny dish arrangement that is common in these cases where the waitlist for a new kidney usually stretches for years. Mike had even completed a Half-Ironman triathlon only a year after his donation. Subsequent to Leadville, on July 23, Mike completed the full Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid, NY, in a very impressive 13:18:49. Mike can obviously describe from first-hand knowledge, as he does with me, how easy it is to donate a kidney and lead a normal life – and beyond – with one kidney. He was back to his usual training in just a month after his donation, and helped out another human being in the process. Mike also got to see first-hand that dialysis is tough, and needed kidneys are scarce, and he altruistically jumped in to do something to make a huge difference in someone’s life. I think you’ll be as wowed by this guy as I am. After listening to Mike, if you would like to consider a kidney donation yourself, go to kidneyregistry.org

National Kidney Registry
https://www.kidneyregistry.org/

Mike Kennedy
Facebook Mike Kennedy (the one in Bethlehem PA)
Instagram @xcmikek

Bill Stahl
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Facebook Bill Stahl
Instagram @stahlor and @coachstahl
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