Alive to Strive Race Ambassador Ready to Run After Two Kidney Transplants

Born with one kidney, Marie-Eve Bisson has always known the vital role kidneys play in our overall health and wellbeing. An active person since her teen years, Marie-Eve took up running several years ago to help her stay fit and that’s when she learned about the Alive to Strive Kidney Fitness Project.

“I was telling a friend about my running, and she told me about this local organization that could help me with reaching my fitness goals.” After that conversation, Marie-Eve joined the 5km running group classes offered by Alive to Strive.

During a routine blood pressure test two years ago, Marie-Eve was rushed to the hospital after doctors found her blood pressure was dangerously high. After further tests, Marie-Eve was shocked to learn she was in kidney failure.

On April 3, 2014, just weeks before last year’s Alive to Strive Race, Marie-Eve received a kidney from a friend. Days later, she lost her new kidney due to thrombosis, a blood clot in the new kidney. A resilient Marie-Eve still made it to race day to cheer on her group of friends who were running the 5km team challenge.

In the following months, Marie-Eve worked through the side effects of her failed transplant. “Mentally, you’re ready for the new kidney, and then it fails. Physically, I felt nausea and other side effects. I went back to work in the summer but eventually had to stop work. My father also passed away during this time. It was a very hard period,” shares Marie-Eve.

“Then I received news this past September that another friend was a compatible donor. On December 5, 2014, I underwent my second kidney transplant and everything went well. I could feel the difference right away when I woke up. My body just felt cleaner because the new kidney was removing toxins.”

After surgery, Marie-Eve says that her kidney journey is not over. “Surgery and transplant is the short term challenge. For the rest of my life, there will be medications, taking care of my health, monitoring my kidney. You have to adapt to a new life with a new kidney.”

Marie-Eve started training again in February and has her sights set on completing a half marathon.

“I feel very lucky. I’ve had two donors, no dialysis and a successful surgery,” says Marie-Eve. “I’ll be participating once again this year in the Alive to Strive 5km team challenge with a team of 30 people, including my two donors. It is very important for me to be out there again this year.”

Funding for the Alive to Strive Kidney Fitness Project is made possible through the Alive to Strive Race, which is taking place on Sunday, April 26 at Hog’s Back Park and the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Up to 700 participants are expected to participate in the 1km, 5km, 10km walk/run and the 5km Team Challenge.

Register for the Alive to Strive Race online before April 22 at www.alivetostrive.ca , or at Hog’s Back Park on race day.