This summer, The Kidney Group’s patient Cheryl Keeney won a gold medal at the Transplant Olympics in the swimming individual medley category.
In November 2006, Cheryl received a kidney-pancreas transplant at the University of Miami, performed by Dr. George Burke. Prior to that, she had been on peritoneal (home) dialysis under the care of Dr. Gabriel Valle of The Kidney Group.
Following her transplant—and inspired by her daughter Ali, a swimmer for Cardinal Gibbons High School—Cheryl began training with Fort Lauderdale Aquatics Master Coach Marty Hendricks and started competing in Masters Challenges.
As Cheryl says about life after transplant:
“I didn’t realize how sick I was until I found out how great I feel today. I am no longer a diabetic. My whole life changed. I got a miracle. Hopefully, I can be an inspiration to others. Now, every day I dive into the pool, I tell myself, ‘Today matters.’”
Cheryl Keeney, you are our hero!
The Kidney Group proudly salutes you.
(With appreciation to Sharon Robb of the Sun Sentinel for parts of this story.)
