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My name is Mary. I have two children Claudia, 17 and Tomasz, 10. I’ve been on dialysis for five years. I have had several surgeries during this time. I have been having problems trying to get my shunts and grafts to keep working. I have been depressed many days, not knowing what is going to happen to me. I really wish I could live a long time to see my children grow up. I am trying to get a fitness grant in hopes that I can be an example to someone else and tell them my story. I also want to be able to eat right and exercise right. I have been sick a lot lately and just want to feel normal again. I want to be happy and I want to be able to go places and do things with my children without getting tired. I want to be able to walk without getting tired. I do know that I have been blessed by Jesus to have lived this long on dialysis. I thank God for that. I lost my mother and brother to dialysis and that is another reason I am trying to better and get healthier. I would like to have a trainer and gym membership to help me exercise and motivate me to eat right and lose weight.

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My name is Keith I recently turned 50 years old. I never thought I would reach this age. My doctors stressed to me at the time my kidneys failed in 1993 that if I didn’t received a transplant I would not live past 48. Well here I am and now after meeting with Shad I have been inspired to get myself in shape. I am raising my grandson with my daughter and little Keith is my heart. I want to be able to go bike riding with him next summer. Being a dialysis patient I thought getting fit was next to impossible, but now i believe I can do it thanks to this wonderful foundation.

An update from Keith

Shad,
You are a God send. Because you came and visited our Dialysis Center and chatted with me about your clearances. I told our doctors and nurses about what we talked and low and behold we got the needles. This month my clearances went from 60 to 73 man what a difference. Not only was my clearances increased but everyone who had been put on a 14 ga. needle. We are running 500-550 and a couple of us could 600, but they won’t let us. It won’t be long until we will be able to run 600. We are so excited and bless that you and your foundation came to Paducah, KY and shared with us.

I had my evaluation at the gyms last week and was able to ride the stationary bike. I did pretty good. I only rode for 10 minutes my legs were so wobbly, but it was great the trainer Scott said that I would hate him on my next visit which is in the morning 10/26/06 @ 9:00 am. So if you hear a long hard scream don’t get alarmed its just Scott killing me.
I thank God for you often. I really believe I was just waiting to pass on making the best of it just going to dialysis and playing with my grandson. Now I am really excited about getting into shape.

Because of You and your foundation I am going to go bike riding with Little Keith we both are really excited. God Bless You and Thanks again

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My name is Kermit. I am 50 years old, and live in Paducah, Kentucky. I have total renal failure due to diabetes and blood pressure. I lost my kidneys in August of 2000. I also almost lost my sight. I was in a state of depression and didn’t care if I lived or died. I had to have surgery on both eyes to save my sight. I was at Vanderbilt Hospital and Clinic when this happened. I stayed in Nashville, TN until July of 2001. At which time I came back to Paducah, KY where I was born and raised. I currently am not on any transplant list. I figure that this is all there is until I die. I would like a gym membership and personal trainer. I would also like to do the pool for my legs. I also would like a new pair of walking shoes.

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Michael received a gym membership from the foundation.

I have an Ass. Degree in Computer Office, I worked nine years for a factory that let me go when my FMLA ran out in June. I live with my parents now so they can help. I am 1 of 6 kids. I had an older sister die 8 years ago of a lung disease and my younger sister now has it but is doing well so far. I have twin brothers 25 had cancer 2 years ago and beat that. Now all I have to do is beat this

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Gregory received a treadmill from the foundation.

I was born and raised in Kentucky. Home of the big three Kentucky fried chicken, Mohamed Ali, and me. In 1982 I was diagnosed with diabetes, I never watched my blood sugar level and ended up loosing 3 toes and got hypertension. Ended up needing a cane to walk, my condition then got worse and I fell twice and then needed a walker to get around. Then I was diagnosed with kidney failure and ended up with limited mobility and confined to a wheel chair. I am hoping that being able to use this treadmill as much as I am able to everyday will help me get out of this wheel chair.

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David received a Trek Mountain bike from the foundation.

Wow a story from a dialysis patient! Well I am sure my story is just like many others, we’re diagnosed with a disease, we look at the road ahead, the changes we must make. Its hard to swallow. It appears that the future is bleak. Lots of pain, and then depression. The Bible says seek and you shall find, ask and you will be given. God or someone upstairs has been very good to me. I have been blessed I have overcome depression. Everything and everyone I have needed has been placed in my path, just like Shad Ireland. I have been in a dilemma with what to do with my self. I still don’t know exactly what I want to do but I know I want to help dialysis patients overcome there obstacles. I want to help them to help themselves. I them to get busy living and not so busy dyeing. We have a life to live, but sometimes it is hard to see with a broken heart and a broken spirit. People need people and we need people that won’t quit or give up on us.