Tales of a One-Kidney Fencer

The one common theme with all my discharge meetings prior to leaving the hospital was that I have to tell every health care provider who comes within 5′ of me that I am a kidney donor. I have been thinking about the best way to accomplish these things if I am potentially non-responsive. I think I have solutions.

I am taking a three-pronged approach to this. First off, I got a tag to attach to my WHOOP strap that provides information that I am a donor and emergency contact information. In the hospital, they also gave me a “Hope Stone,” which was a synthetic stone that was larger than was practical. I gave that to a friend of mine who is a professional jewelry maker. She will be cutting the “stone” down and making a neckless out of it that can be inscribed with a medical alert sign on one side and “Kidney Donor” on the other. However, neither of those first two remedies will be worn during fencing.

So, the final remedy is a Road ID wristband. It is small enough not to feel during practice and competitions. I got it in my club colors, with a gold plate to remind me of my goals. I will keep it in my fencing bag and just put it on before practice. If I’m ever injured, or something happens, it will put First Responders on notice. In addition, I can wear it while cycling once it gets warm again.

Honestly, I never thought I would have to be up on such much information. But, the transplant team insisted on the notice to everyone. So, here it is.