Published 9/22/2006 :: The Columbia Star

Kidney Recipient Moves from Death's Door to Five Medals

Editors note: In the September 8, 2006, issue of The Columbia Star , we highlighted Jake Williams, a liver transplant recipient. This is a story about a kidney transplant recipient who was given a second chance by a live donor.

By MIMI M. MADDOCK
Mimi@TheColumbiaStar.com

Bill McAbee started feeling bad when he was 14 years old. He had severe headaches and his urine was the color of iced tea. He didn't tell anyone because he didn't want to sound like a wimp. He continued to run cross country in high school, graduated from the Citadel, and completed Officer Candidates School.

When he was sent for his physical at Bethesda Navy Hospital, he got the bad news. "I was turned down by the Navy because I had high levels of protein in my urine. They said it wasn't something to be overly concerned about, but I needed to get it checked." He did not.

Bill McAbee won the gold in the 5K race at the National Transplant Games.

At age 27 McAbee's blood pressure went sky high. He was put in the hospital and was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, a kidney disease caused by high levels of protein in the urine. He was put on peritoneal dialysis which uses the peritoneal membrane inside the body as a filter to clear wastes and extra fluid from the body and return electrolyte levels to normal. This procedure, unlike hemodialysis, can be done wherever the patient is.

After six years the peritoneal dialysis quit working. In December 2003, McAbee felt so sick he thought it would be his last Christmas. He needed a kidney and there were no family donors. McAbee asked that no one tell him what was going on. He didn't want to go through the ups and downs of being on standby for a kidney. He was mentally and spiritually ready to die.

"By February and March, nothing was working. My family asked folks to pray for me," said McAbee.

Twenty-five people came forward to be tested at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., and one of those tested stood out. Judy Venters said God told her she was supposed to be the donor and that proved to be true.

Bill McAbee won the silver in the 400 meter race at the National Transplant Games.

In June 2004, McAbee met Venters. "I was speechless. What do you say to a person who is literally giving part of themselves to you?"

Venters told McAbee that it wasn't about him. It was something God was asking her to do.

On a Tuesday in August 2004, Venters and McAbee were in the operating room. The surgical team was prepping and a nurse asked, "Are you two related?" When Venters said yes, it stunned McAbee. "Yes," she said, "we are brothers in Christ."

McAbee was so sick he didn't care if he didn't wake up. But he did.

"I immediately felt like a million bucks," he said. The doctors explained they'd know if the transplant worked if the kidney made six liters of urine in the first 24 hours. After 12 hours the kidney had produced 13 liters. The doctors were amazed.

Two days after the surgery doctors told McAbee to get up. "We've got to get you running again. You are our bet for the transplant games."

That Sunday, Bill walked about a mile around the hospital. He was exhausted but was determined to get back in shape.

In February 2005, McAbee started swimming and running. His friend Scott Massey suggested the two of them train for a triathlon. On July 10, 2005, Massey and McAbee did their first triathlon at James Island Park. McAbee said when he crossed the finish line, tears streamed down his face. "I was so emotional," he said.

After this he continued participating in triathlons and was determined to win a medal at the National Transplant Games. This amazing athlete who had once been near death's door surpassed his goal winning a total of five medals. McAbee won a gold and silver medal in cycling, one gold medal in the 5K run, one silver in the 400 meter, and a bronze in the 4x4 relay at the National Transplant Games June 16-21, 2006, in Louisville, Kentucky.

McAbee says, "There is no way I could have competed in the games without the other side of the equation. I want recipients of organs to know that they owe it to their donors to live life to the fullest. So many young people died before they could live out their dreams. It's up to us to live out that dream for them."

Bill McAbee is an investment banker with WHM Capital Advisors. He and his wife Teresa have three children: Rachel, 11; Hamilton, eight; and Landon, five. And because of Judy Venter, 35-year-old McAbee has a whole new life ahead of him.