EP 87: Coach Darryn Chenault's Kidney Transplant Journey

This Thing Called Life

Coach Darryn Chenault's Kidney Transplant Journey

It's April so it's time to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved and healed others as organ eye and tissue donors. Today we introduce Coach Darryn Chenault, to share his Transplant Journey and discuss how he broke the cycle of not communicating about Kidney Disease in his family.

Episode Highlights:

• Andi introduces Coach Darryn Chenault and how she heard his story on TV
• Darryn shares with us his love for being on the field coaching and how one day there was a change in how his body responded to high-energy activities.
• Darryn explains how he thought it was a hereditary disease, ignoring the risk and thinking he was young and healthy. Darryn eventually figured he would have to take meds like he had witnessed with his dad, but when he got COVID, it took his Kidney Issues from Stage 2 to Stage 5.
• Darryn shares that since he was “That Guy” a police officer, a hero to his family, and someone who works out every morning, he didn’t want to feel like he was not in control.
• Going through the struggles of his disease, Darryn had a hard time adjusting to not being “Out and about”, that’s when he decided that he needed a Kidney.
• Darryn shared how he was saved by a friend who advertised to the community that he needed a kidney transplant.
• Darryn’s nephew, Arryn, called and said he was a match and wanted to donate his kidney.
• Darryn’s family encouraged him to receive this gift.
• Andi and Darryn discuss the issue that Black families have with higher rates of kidney disease and diabetes, which can lead to the need for dialysis and transplants.
• Darryn suggests a lack of education, on the topic, prevents black families from stepping up at the same rate to be living donors.
• Darryn's actual birthday is April 9 but now he tells people that his new birthday is June 6, his Transplant Date, because he got more time.
• Darryn and Arryn have a unique bond after sharing this kidney transplant experience, inspiring others at family gatherings.
• Darryn extends gratitude for his ability to spend time with family and enjoy activities they couldn't do before, while also acknowledging the importance of self-care and education for transplant recipients.

3 Key Points:

1. Coach Darryn was always there for his players and the community, he was someone everyone looked up to. Being on the receiving side was an adjustment requiring him to have new routines and acceptance of the gift of life.
2. Coach Darryn shares his wonderful gift of receiving the Kidney Transplant from his nephew Arryn on June 6, and how their bond got even stronger and inspired other people in their family.
3. Darryn shares gratitude for being able to spend time with family and enjoy activities they couldn't do before, while also acknowledging the importance of self-care and education for transplant recipients.

Tweetable Quotes:

• “ Because here I am thinking I'm the guy like I work out in the morning. Good kids are looking up to me. I'm a police officer. I'm a superhero to my kids and my family. so to speak. I just wanted to be that guy.” - Darryn Chenault
• “And that's what I learned throughout this whole process that I needed to lean on my family.“ - Darryn Chenault
• “I mean, it was it was a tough ride, but we did it.” - Darryn Chenault
• “Black families have higher rates of kidney disease and diabetes, which many times lead to needing dialysis and a transplant yet we do not as a community… as a race, we don't step up at the same rate to be living donors as white people” - Andi Johnson
• "We gotta open up our heart and let them help us." - Darryn Johnson

Resources:

https://lifepassiton.org/

https://lifepassiton.org/board-of-directors-leadership/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH

https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH

https://aopo.org/