Dialysis patient follows dream

March 17
Dialysis patient follows dream
Shad Ireland, who competed in an Ironman triathlon, brings his inspirational story here.
STEVEN FONDO Times Leader Correspondent

WILKES-BARRE – A failed kidney transplant and grim prognosis didn’t stop Shad Ireland from dreaming and dreaming big.

At just 75 pounds and recovering from a coma-inducing organ rejection, Ireland walked into his doctor’s office and proudly declared that he was going to be the first dialysis patient to compete in an Ironman triathlon.

An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon all completed within 17 hours.

Ireland was in town on Wednesday in support of National Kidney Month.

He is a spokesman for Fresenius Medical Care’s dialysis centers and was sharing his inspirational story with dialysis patients at Fresenius’ Wilkes-Barre center and educating them about the recent innovations in the treatment of chronic kidney disease.

“I was wasting away. Constantly angry because I was chained to a medical condition and just plain sick and tired of being sick,” Ireland said. “I was lying on my couch watching the Ironman Triathlon Championship and saw this incredibly brave woman collapse before the finish and literally drag herself across the line. It blew me away. I decided then and there that I wanted what she had.”

In the past few years, Ireland has gone on to compete in numerous triathlons throughout the country and recently completed a 4,900-mile “What Inspires You” bike trip from San Pedro, Calif., to Washington, D.C.

Obesity, diabetes and an aging population have added to the growing number of people suffering with kidney disease in the U.S. A race-specific illness, blacks and Hispanics are four times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and nine times more likely to delay seeking medical treatment until the disease is in its final stages.

“This disease permeates our society,” Ireland said. “Twenty million Americans have kidney disease and another 20 million are at risk of developing it in their lifetime. That’s one in nine Americans.”

Cindy Eveland, treatment options specialist at Fresenius’ local dialysis clinics said, “Each month Fresenius conducts their free Kidney Early Evaluation Program to screen individuals for early-stage kidney disease and educate them on prevention and disease treatment options.

“We’re holding our next evaluation screening in Scranton on March 27th and we encourage people throughout the area to attend,” Eveland said. “Prevention is a big part of what we do at Fresenius.”

Ireland is heading back to his home in Atlanta for dialysis before once again continuing his National Kidney Month Tour. He plans to compete in a number of international bicycling events this year, culminating with a triumphant lap on Paris’ Champs-Elysees during the final leg of the Tour de France.

Further information about Fresenius’ upcoming screening can be found online at UltraCare/Dialysis.com or by calling toll free, 866-276-0600.

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