A 37-year-old dialysis patient who's survived two kidney transplants is on a mission beyond survival. It's a 4,000-mile trek solo yet an inspiring journey for countless dialysis patients.
"I just want to be known as somebody whose successfully living with kidney disease,” said survivor Shad Ireland.
Ireland is biking from California to our nation's capitol as part of the “What Inspires You Tour”. Along the way, he's stopping at dialysis clinics to encourage fellow patients with chronic kidney disease to live life to the fullest.
"I was raised to believe two things, look if you see somebody that needs help you help them,” Ireland said. “And if you see something that's broke you fix it."
But the road of life is often unpredictable and bumpy-- two failed kidney transplants--and shrinking to a lean 75-pounds---doctors told Shad he wouldn't live past 25. Ireland adds, "I turned to alcohol. I turned and drugs. I tried to squeeze in as much living as I could. I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I haven't done."
The final stretch hasn't been easy for him; dialysis patients must limit their water intake--regardless of the heat. Five years ago, Shad Ireland became the first dialysis patient to complete an Ironman Triatholon.
The 4,000 trek is sponsored in-part by Greenville's Fresenius Medical Care ECU Dialysis Center.
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