I was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis in 1986 just before I entered high school. I was put on a low protein diet and told that I would eventually need a kidney transplant, but at the time there were no outward signs that anything was wrong.
I attended
Stevens Institute of Technology and earned a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, I worked as an Industrial Engineer for a couple of months and then I got the illustrious title of "MCAE Specialist" working for
Radian Inc. in Alexandria, Va. In 1996, Radian shut down the division I was working in and a co-worker(former college roommate) and I started a company to continue what we were doing. We were lucky, the planets aligned, we worked hard, and we built a great company.
In 1998 and 1999 I started noticing symptoms. I would occasionally have swelling in my ankles. Then later there were more severe symptoms, I was tired all the time and if I went into work, I got there late and left early. I would crash on the couch and would zone out in front of the TV. I couldn’t function. My doctors finally prescribed synthetic EPO(A hormone normally produced by the kidneys that tells the bones to create red blood cells) and after awhile, the medicine kicked in and I was able to function again. The sad part is that when I got to feeling normal, the doctors had to cut back the medication or the insurance company wouldn’t pay for the drug. So, I was at a functioning level, but not much more. I was able to ride my bike though and I needed that because my illness was progressing, my blood pressure was rising and exercise was helping to keep my blood pressure under control. I was also taking blood pressure medication through a patch on my skin, and I was on the largest dose available.
I sold my half of the business in early 2000 and in August I rode my first century. One month later, I had my transplant. While recuperating from the transplant I saw
RAAM on OLN TV and I knew that that was what I wanted to do. Now the thing you have to understand is when the new kidney goes in, it’s producing normal amounts of EPO. My body was used to having just enough red blood cells to function and now ***BAM*** hello new red blood cells. I felt like Superman. I could have done anything. Riding across the country, NO PROBLEM. Tall buildings in a single bound, NO PROBLEM.
Nine months later I was on my bike riding across the country with
PACTour. Then came Grad school and collegiate racing.
