Life Stories: Transplanted Kidney Enables Medal-Winning Performance

Ken Sutha

Kidney Recipient: Atlanta, GA

Ken Sutha was diagnosed with kidney disease when he was ten years old. By the time he was a senior in college, his kidneys were failing. His doctors told him he needed a new kidney or dialysis to stay alive.

He moved to Atlanta and began medical school and transplant evaluation at the same time. Shortly afterward, he received a living donor transplant from his father Surachai, a native of Thailand, and was able to recover quickly enough to take his medical boards with the rest of his class.

Ken won three swimming medals at the 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games and now competes in triathlons. Ken also competed in the swimming events and the "virtual" triathlon in the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games.

Ken’s story is courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation.

Ken won three swimming medals at the 2008 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games and now competes in triathlons.