Dialysis 'Marathon Man' Shares Vision with Local Patients, Staff

Evergreen Park's Fresenius Medical Center gave a hero's welcome Thursday to Shad Ireland, a marathon cyclist and internationally known advocate for kidney patients.

Ireland, 39, the first dialysis patient ever to complete the brutal Ironman triathlon, circulated in the treatment center at 9730 S. Western Ave., greeting patients and staff and spreading this message: "You can do it."

"He's not nationally known, he's internationally known," commented area manager Martha Sowell, R.N. "He's inspirational. Kidney disease is very manageable, and one of our objectives in having Shad here is that he's been a dialysis patient for 29 years. The power's in you, and he's a live example, with how successful he's been." 

Although he acknowledged that Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a "devastating" illness, Ireland offers himself as an example of the full life one can live, even with this diagnosis.

"I feel that I have the responsibility to set the standards for others to follow, because of the gift I have been given," said Ireland.

Risk factors for the disease include ethnicity, with those of African-American heritage being four times more likely to develop the illness, according to the National Kidney Disease Education Program. 

"Some have said, 'Who is this white boy from Minnesota?" commented Ireland. "But when I look into someone's eyes, I see myself. We share the same struggle. This disease sees no color, it's devastating."

In fact, ethnicity is just one factor, Ireland said. Obesity is also a risk factor, because it places one at risk for diabetes and high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to kidney failure, he said.

"There are 27 million Americans who don't know they have it," said Ireland. Some of those Americans will literally learn their diagnosis in the emergency room, he said.

Ireland got the his diagnosis at age 10. He'd been urinating blood, he said. Ireland later had two kidney transplants, first at age 18, which lasted for three years, and a second, unsuccessful transplant. "It's not always successful," he commented. "Sometimes, when you remove the kidney for the transplant, the organ goes into shock."

Although Ireland is now a successful motivational speaker with Fresenius Medical Care and other venues, he's had his share of bad days, he said.

"It's easy to shake your fist at God and say, 'Why me, why me, why me," he said. Learning that you're in kidney failure is a tough adjustment all must undergo, he said. "They all do, no matter what, with anger, fear, resentment, loss of self control."

Yet, Ireland said he's drawn strength and peace from his Christian faith.  "In (God) all things are possible, he's given me the time I've needed," he said. He's distilled his strategy down to three words: "Deal. Adjust. Live."

His other great inspiration is the Ironman, recalling a riveting moment during a 1993 telecast when a female runner dragged herself across the finish line. "I watched the woman drop 100 yards from the finish line, she had the wherewithal to drag herself...What is it, what separates you from everybody else?" he asked.

Ireland decided he too would complete the Ironman, but was greeted with skepticism by his family and medical team, he recalled.

His dream came true in 2004, when he finished the grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run in Lake Placid, New York. He's since completed more than 20 triathlons, and in 2009, as part of the “What Inspires You Tour,” he cycled over 4,000 miles from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.

Ireland said he now plans to tackle cycling the Tour de France and other races to raise awareness of kidney disease, commenting that he'd love to talk with cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

His life is busy. He and his wife, Melissa, 31, live in Buford, Ga., with their two dogs.

He said he's partial to Mizuno New Wave running shoes, and estimates he spends about 30 hours a week training when he's preparing for the Ironman.

And how much time does he spend in dialysis?

"About four to five hours a day, four days a week," Ireland said.

For him, as with other kidney disease patients, it's undergo dialysis or die, he said.