We would like to introduce the 2025 AKF Montgomery Kidney Walk & Celebration Patient Chair – Barbi Lee.
Barbi Lee is a recently retired State of Alabama employee of over 30 years. She is also a kidney disease survivor of over 47 years & kidney transplant recipient of over 26 years.
Barbi Lee is no stranger to the Alabama Kidney Foundation! Barbi’s involvement & history with AKF is a special one & began over 25 years ago. Here is Barbi’s story.
What an absolute honor to be the Patient Chair for the Alabama Kidney Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Montgomery Walk in 2025.
I was invited to become involved and raise money for the Montgomery Board over 25 years ago. Why am I still involved? A patient or anyone else should not have to choose between medication or food, dialysis or rent. Most kidney patients have limited income and cannot work due to their illness and frequent treatments needed to sustain life.
I have battled kidney disease for 47 years. Wow, that was difficult to write.
What was thought to be an appendix attack at age nine, turned out to be a severe kidney infection with a later discovery I was born with only one kidney that functioned, and that the right non-functioning kidney was only the size of a walnut.
After numerous trips to a pediatric nephrology clinic in Gainesville, Florida (the best at that time) my mom was told I could live with this one kidney forever, even though it was only functioning at 80%.
At age 16 I was diagnosed with hypertension. During a hospital stay at age 20, I was referred to a Nephrologist for a consultation. He stated my numbers were a little elevated, but I could live on these numbers a lifetime. I yearly checkups at this point.
During my yearly checkup in 1995, my promise of living on those numbers ended. I was told I would eventually need a kidney transplant and should make plans to go to Birmingham to be evaluated so my name could be placed on the transplant waiting list. What a shock…I was 26 years old and had just been through a divorce the month before and had moved to a new town. My name was added to the kidney transplant waiting list on December 12, 1995. I was told the average wait time was two years.
My kidney function continued to deteriorate and became a dialysis patient in February 1997. I chose Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) since I was working two jobs just trying to make ends meet. I even played co-ed softball.
In September 1998, I started having trouble with the PD catheter and was told I would have to begin Hemodialysis for several weeks. The surgery was scheduled for October 30th to start down this dreaded road of going to a dialysis clinic three times each week JUST to continue life.
But at 11:55 p.m. on October 23rd, my telephone rang; it was the Alabama Organ Center telling me a kidney was available for me. Not knowing for sure I would receive this kidney, I traveled to UAB against all hope that this was MY miracle.
After waiting thirty-four long months, I received the gift of life.
I have had my transplant now for over 26 years, only by the grace of God. I was told I would be lucky if the transplanted kidney lasted 10-12 years. Now I need a second transplant. I have been placed on active status again with UAB for another kidney transplant.
Transplant life is not always an easy life, but it is the life God chose for me even before I was born. I am blessed beyond measure and way more than I deserve.
With patients being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease every day, the need for services offered by the Alabama Kidney Foundation is needed now more than ever. This is the reason I stay involved with AFK.
If you would like to help make a difference in the lives of Alabamians in need who are fighting kidney disase & get involved with this year’s Montgomery Kidney Walk & Celebration, please reach out to Middle Alabama Regional Director, Shannon Morrell at shannon@alkidney.org
The 2025 AKF Montgomery Kidney Walk & Celebration on Saturday, May 3rd at 8a. The event will be held at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. Join the fun as we make a difference & celebrate the 50th Anniversary of AKF!
