February 12, 2026
In April 2015, Hayden Shock was a college athlete finishing his final semester at Gallaudet University. Kidney disease wasn’t on his radar—not even close.
But one red-eye flight changed everything.
The Signs He Didn’t Recognize
Looking back, Hayden realized he had symptoms of kidney failure the year leading up to his diagnosis.
“I was dealing with cramping that I attributed to working out and swollen ankles to tight socks,” he said. “I thought my puffy eyes were from staying up too late.”
He was a young college athlete and overall healthy. None of it seemed serious.
“On a flight home from a conference in early 2015, the cramping became constant. The pain was unbearable,” Hayden said. “The next morning, I could barely walk.”
Hayden went to his athletic trainer, who sent him straight to the ER.
“My trainer thought I might have a blood clot,” Hayden said. “The reality was something I’d never considered.”
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“You Have Kidney Failure”
Hayden, who is deaf, let his dad know he was going to the hospital. His father met him there to translate what the doctor said and to offer emotional support.
“I had extremely high blood pressure. They ran routine tests, including blood work. While I was waiting for the results, the doctor walked in and said something to my father.”
His father’s face went pale, and his jaw dropped.
“I signed, ‘Dad, what did he say?!’ and he signed back, ‘You have kidney failure.’ I was shocked.”
Hayden was quickly transferred to another hospital that could better handle his case. Unfortunately, complications followed.
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A Medical Emergency That Nearly Took His Life
Hayden’s new medical team immediately worked to lower his blood pressure. They also sent him for a kidney biopsy to help determine the cause of his kidney disease.
“Due to internal bleeding after the biopsy, I had to stay in the ICU. “At one point, they administered blood pressure medication through my IV—and my heart suddenly stopped.”
Hayden told a visiting friend, “I don’t feel good.” Then his EKG flatlined.
“Doctors and nurses rushed in. I could literally feel my soul leaving my body—it was peaceful, painless,” he said. “They were preparing to shock my heart when it started beating again on its own.”
Hayden, thankfully, recovered and was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy with stage 5 kidney failure. IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease caused by a buildup of IgA antibodies that damage the kidneys’ small blood-filtering units (glomeruli).
Dialysis and Survival Mode
Hayden delayed dialysis for a few months because his team thought he would receive a kidney transplant quickly.
His father was a match and approved to donate a kidney. But at the final hour, doctors found an issue with his kidney and canceled the surgery.
“By August 2015, I was so weak that I could barely leave my bedroom,” he said. “I genuinely felt like my body was shutting down. That’s when I started in-center hemodialysis.”
While lifesaving, dialysis changed Hayden.
“I was a social butterfly. I traveled the world, dated, and lived my life,” Hayden said. “Dialysis affected everything—my relationships, freedom, and identity. It felt like my world got smaller while the weight I carried got heavier.”
Hayden’s treatment days followed a strict routine. He woke at 4:30 in the morning and drove himself to the clinic.
“Since I communicated with the technicians through pen and paper, I liked being the first patient there,” Hayden said. “I was friendly, but kept my distance. I didn’t want to get attached to people fighting the same battle I was fighting.”
There was one exception–Paul, who showed him just how fragile life on dialysis can be.
Watch videos made by living donors to learn more about kidney donation.
The Reality of Dialysis
Well before Hayden knew Paul’s name, he was just another person in the dialysis clinic.
“He was a Patriots fan who used a New England Patriots blanket during treatment. One day, the Steelers were playing the Patriots. As a Steelers fan, I walked over and typed on my phone: 'Go Steelers!' and showed him."
What Hayden didn’t realize was that Paul was blind.
“A tech read the message out loud. Paul laughed and reached out to shake my hand in greeting. The Patriots beat the Steelers that weekend. On Monday morning, Paul went looking for me to shake my hand again.”
They continued a light, friendly rivalry until Paul stopped showing up one day.
“At first, I didn’t ask questions. I wasn’t emotionally capable of letting myself care. Eventually, I typed to a technician, “What happened to the blind guy? Did he get a transplant?”
The tech stared at Hayden before typing, “No. He didn’t make it. He died.”
“I was stunned. My emotions were numb. I didn’t know how to process it fully.”
A month or so later, Hayden was scrolling on Facebook when he saw a photo of Paul.
“A friend posted that Paul was her godfather. I was shocked at how small the world is,” Hayden said. “That’s how I learned his name. To this day, Paul is the only dialysis patient whose name I ever learned.”
The Mindset That Carried Him Through
Hayden was determined to get a transplant.
“I followed everything my doctors told me. Listening to them was my best chance at staying alive,” he said. “That was my North Star.”
The gym became his outlet, even on days when his body felt depleted.
“I lived by the words of my late friend, Taylor Haugen, who passed away at 15. ‘Don’t Quit, Never Give Up,” he said.
Hayden also relied on resources from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).
“I constantly had questions—about symptoms, diet, dialysis, transplant. NKF always had reliable information available,” he said. “Seeing so many other people have the same questions normalized my new life and made everything feel less overwhelming.”
Get Support
- NKF Cares: Call 855.653.2273 toll-free to get questions answered by a trained NKF professional.
- NKF Communities: Anonymously speak with others affected by kidney disease in one of our online forums.
- NKF Kidney Walk: Meet kidney warriors in your area as you raise money and walk to better the future for everyone impacted by kidney disease.
A Life-Saving Gift
Hayden was on dialysis for more than two years when Audrey Hardwick saw a Facebook post about his situation.
They only knew each other in passing from high school and weren’t close. But that didn’t matter to Audrey. She quickly started the living kidney donor evaluation.
“There was no second thought on her part,” Haden said. “She was my match and deemed a good donor candidate.”
On June 20, 2017, Audrey donated a kidney to Hayden. He remembers waking from surgery, instantly feeling different.
“Life rushed back into me. My energy came back,” Hayden said. “Her decision changed my life forever. It was a dream come true. I am so grateful for a second chance.”
Three weeks later, Hayden was back to doing what he loved–running and spending time at the gym. Soon after, his doctor cleared him to move to a new city for graduate school.
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Turning a Platform Into Purpose: 13 for LIFE Challenge
In 2025, another dream for Hayden came true when he was announced as Steelers Fan of the Year. This honor means everything to him and his family.
“It means that my devotion and my family’s tradition connected me to this team in the most profound way possible,” he said. “It's an overwhelming feeling of belonging and pride. I am a piece of Steelers history now.”
With this recognition came visibility. Hayden decided to use it to raise awareness about kidney donation.
“Around thirteen people die every single day waiting for a kidney transplant,” he said. “That number became the foundation of my 13 for LIFE Challenge.”
Since the gym was already part of his daily routine, Hayden decided to film himself doing 13 push-ups every day until the Super Bowl.
“I posted the videos on social media and invited more people to join. Everyone who participated helped honor those 13 lives and brought more awareness to the importance of organ donation,” he said.
Then the Steelers stepped up to show their support.
“The wide receivers posted a video of themselves participating in the challenge,” Hayden said. “When a team like this supports a cause, it amplifies the message.”
This boosted Hayden’s challenge, allowing more people to participate.
“The bigger the platform, the more people we can reach. The more lives we can save,” Hayden said. “The Steelers made me feel seen, supported, and uplifted. It’s more than football for me; it’s a family.”
At the heart of Hayden’s challenge is one simple message. “Organ donation isn’t just a statistic—it’s a lifeline.”
“This journey goes far beyond being the Steelers Fan of the Year,” Hayden said. “That recognition gave me a louder voice to pursue my true purpose, honoring donors, uplifting recipients, supporting those still waiting, and saving lives through awareness.”
