Written by:liz 4/28/2008 12:21 PM  

Two years ago, on May 4, Keith Ashby underwent a kidney transplant. He’d been born with one kidney, and years of high blood pressure took their toll, causing his remaining kidney to fail.

Kidneys are one organ that a living donor can provide, and lead an active, healthy life afterwards. Most people awaiting a kidney transplant go to family members first. But there’s a 6-point match system, and even blood siblings rarely match.

Keith was on “The List” for only a few months, when his 26 year old step-son, Johnny, offered to see if he was a match. He was. A few weeks later, Keith’s wife waited while her husband and son were wheeled into surgery. Doctors were amazed at how closely the two matched. Keith is African-American. Johnny, now 28, is Caucasian.

The transplant operation was a success, and Keith is now 55 pounds lighter, has normal blood pressure, watches his diet, and works out every morning. He skis the bumps, he hikes Chatacqua, and he’s running on a relay team to benefit the American Transplant Foundation.

Keith is on a mission: to educate people on the dangers of living an unhealthy life, especially African-Americans, who make up 35 percent of patients in the U.S. awaiting a kidney transplant.

“Not too many people learn their purpose in life,” Keith said, “But this taught me mine, and that is to spread the word.”

April is Donor Awareness Month, and the American Transplant Foundation is on a mission to decrease the length of time recipients remain on a waiting list by increasing the supply. They stress that both recipients and donors can lead active, healthy lives.

Check out Team American Transplant Foundation today!

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