By Kathy DeMott
Olivia Lewis grew up in Vicksburg and at 25 is a neo-natal nurse. She and her siblings graduated from Vicksburg High School. Olivia and her sister, Emma, are partnering with the Alport Syndrome Foundation to run with purpose during the Wisconsin Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k on May 3 in Kenosha.
This half marathon is more than a personal goal. It is an act of love and support for their younger brother Elijah Lewis, 23 who was born with Alport Syndrome, a kidney disease.
Olivia states, “The Alport Syndrome Foundation has been incredible to work with. It is a smaller non-profit that has a strong Alport community in the Kenosha area. They have provided us with team gear, and the local Alport community has committed to come out with signs and cheer us on.” Elijah plans to be there with his parents, girlfriend, and other family members, who will join the 5K run/walk. And he hopes to participate as well.
Elijah was featured in the South County News a year ago to raise awareness of his need for a kidney. Since then, he graduated from college with a degree in multimedia communications. Unfortunately, his disease has progressed and he is currently on dialysis three times a week. He’s also on the Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan kidney transplant list.
Some of his friends are being tested to see if they could be a match to donate a kidney to him or be a living donor for another patient. If he finds a living donor who isn’t a match for him but is still willing to donate to someone on the waitlist, it will increase his chances of finding a match through the paired kidney exchange program.
“Over time, it’s definitely tough; sometimes it seems there’s no end in sight, but I have faith that a kidney will become available and I will be able to live a more normal life. I’ve never had a proper working kidney, so the promise of that keeps me hopeful,” he says. “Like many new graduates, I want to start my career, work full-time and pursue my dreams. However, I’m learning to live a slower pace due to dialysis and the fatigue that often follows. For now, I would love a part time job in media and film production. I’m learning to be thankful for where I am in the process and for my family and friends.”
Olivia says, “Elijah has a good attitude, even when things are difficult. Our faith carries us, along with our amazing community that holds him in their thoughts and prayers. If he has hope, I can have hope for him as well, and that motivates me to run.
“I can do this for him and for others like him who are battling Alport Syndrome. It is humbling for me to use my love for running in order to bring awareness, change, and hopefully, to raise funds for a cure so that every 23-year-old with Alport Syndrome doesn’t have to face the reality of life on dialysis and waiting for a kidney like Elijah. Our team goal is to raise $3,000.” People can donate to the Renal Runners at https://www.classy.org/team/625499.
To learn more about kidney donation or the Living Kidney Donation Program go to www.uofmhealth.org/transplant.
