By MARY LIVERMORE BUSH
Special to The Olathe News
When 16-year-old Evan Donahue dives for tennis balls or swims competitively for Lenexa’s St. James Academy, it is hard to believe he had a kidney transplant three years ago.
Donahue, the son of Olathe residents Brenda and Mike Donahue, was diagnosed with posterior urethral valves (PUV), a congenital condition causing blockages that affect the urinary tract organs, including the kidneys. As a result, Evan had lung problems and was in kidney failure when he was born.
“Everyone was pretty surprised I made it,” said Donahue. “I grew up on strict diets and lots of medicine.”
Until his transplant, Donahue had no more than 30 percent kidney function, which was just enough to keep him from being a candidate for transplant or dialysis. However, when he turned 12, Donahue required more medicine and stricter diets and didn’t feel well much of the time. It was time to think about a kidney transplant.
“We always thought my mom’s kidneys would be a match,” he said. “It turned out we were a near perfect match.”
There was never a question Brenda Donahue would donate a kidney to her son.
“I was so thankful to be able to do it,” she said.
The two surgeries took place June 27, 2007, at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Brenda remained in the hospital for a week and Evan, for two weeks. Brenda said her daughter Leslie and husband Mike held the group together.
“I had the easier job,” said Brenda. “Evan’s recuperation was rocky. I spent most of my time lying by his side in his room.”
When Evan came home from the hospital, he was greeted on the front lawn by fellow students from St. Paul’s Catholic School and family friends. He picked up a basketball and sailed it toward the basket to the cheers of friends and family.
“I figured I had to start sometime,” said Evan.
Now, three years later, Evan is demonstrating his newfound athleticism in Wisconsin at The Transplant Games in Madison. The event is a unique competition that started Friday and continues through Wednesday. The biennial games began in 1990 to celebrate the success of organ transplantation, to honor organ donors and call attention to the need for more donors.
This year’s games drew about 7,500 attendees from around the country, of which 1,500 are transplant athletes. They are competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in sports such as basketball, cycling, golf, racquetball, swimming, tennis and track and field events.
Donahue is part of team Mo-Kan, which is comprised of 80 individuals that include 29 transplant athletes, organ donors, family members, supporters and medical professionals from Kansas and Missouri.
Johnson County transplant athletes joining Donahue include Overland Park resident Ray Gabel, who underwent a heart transplant in 1991, and Kurt Anderson of Westwood, who had a kidney transplant that same year.
Gabel’s heart transplant occurred when he was 24 after an Epstein-Barr virus attacked and severely damaged his heart muscle. He watched the very first Transplant Games from his hospital bed and vowed to be there one day. He has served as the team’s captain since 1992.
Gabel met wife Susan, the recipient of a liver transplant, while both were doing volunteer work for The Transplant Games several years ago.
“Our wedding vows included words honoring our donors, “said Gabel.
Anderson, who has participated in The Transplant Games several times, underwent a kidney transplant after an infection left the organ damaged. He said the games are more about “being there” than about placing in the events.
“There are many of us who wouldn’t be alive without donors,” said Anderson. “It’s a wonderful way to show how much we care and honor them.”
Gabel is participating in a 5K road race and Anderson is competing in golf and bowling. Donahue, the youngest athlete from Johnson County, is competing in tennis, golf and swimming and will also run the 5K road race. Donahue’s parents will run beside him during that event.
Sherri Denney, Team Mo-Kan’s manger, said there are many new athletes on this year’s team and that their biggest trophy is the new organ that qualifies them to be there.
“Just 30 years ago, the idea of kidney or heart transplant recipients running a 50-meter dash or swimming a 25-meter butterfly was unthinkable. Not anymore,” said Denney.
The Transplant Games are presented by the National Kidney Foundation and sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Team Mo-Kan sponsors include CSL Behring, Donate Life, GEAR For Sports, Paxton Creative Resources, Midwest Transplant Network, Missouri Poster and Banner, Saint Luke’s Health System, KU Medical Center and XS Lighting LLC. The team also held several fundraisers throughout the year to help finance its participation in the games.
As Brenda Donahue prepared to leave for the games, she said she thought this day might not ever come.
“It’s been such a long journey to get to this point,” she said. “I’ll definitely need a tissue when I watch Evan compete, but I can’t wait.”
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WAITING
More than 100,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list for organ transplantation and 18 people die each day while waiting. For more information about the games and for transplant information and statistics, visit www.transplantgames.org.
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