Faces of the Games
CHRIS PAXTON, 27
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Just when Chris Paxton of Lee's Summit, Missouri should have been thinking about graduation and looking forward to life after college, kidney failure halted everything. His life became dominated by a grueling dialysis regimen which left him with little time or energy for much else.
Born with Alport's Syndrome, a genetic disorder that damaged his eyesight and hearing as well as his kidney function, Chris knew his increasing fatigue and listlessness was most likely due to declining kidney function. He withdrew from school to undergo dialysis treatments, while waiting for a kidney donor. To make matters worse, Chris knew his brother, Josh, was dealing with the same disease and struggles. Their father, Greg, was found to be a suitable match for Chris and donated his kidney in December of 1995.
A few years later, his brother also received a kidney transplant. Today these two brothers give new meaning to the term “sibling rivalry” at the Olympic-style National Kidney Foundation Transplant Games where the two have won numerous medals. In 2004, Chris took home medals in Track and Field, Basketball, and Cycling while his brother won two bronze in Cycling and gold and silver in Track and Field. Chris was further honored by being chosen as an “Elite Athlete” to compete in the World Transplant Games. The two are looking forward to the 2006 U.S. Games, which will be held in June in Louisville, where they will celebrate their gift of life among thousands of other transplant athletes and give special thanks that they are both there to continue battling for gold.
