Bedfordtimesregister.com - Falls man overcomes illness, inspires in the pool

RPC Photo / Michael Leonard Cuyahoga Falls resident Don Holzheimer displays the two bronze medals he won in swimming at the U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh July 13.

by Michael Leonard

Sports Editor

Cuyahoga Falls resident Don Holzheimer never thought he would become a competitive swimmer -- until he went through one of the toughest periods of his life.

On Sept. 17, 2007, Holzheimer underwent a kidney transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. His younger brother, David Holzheimer, was the donor.

Less than a year later, on July 13, Holzheimer won two bronze medals in swimming at the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games in the men's ages 40 to 49 division. The competition took place July 10 to 15 in Pittsburgh.

Not a bad comeback 10 months after a kidney transplant.

"I actually didn't get cleared to train by my doctors until late March," Holzheimer said. "So I wasn't expecting to win any medals when I got there. It was just awesome."

A diagnosis and a gift

Holzheimer's road to the games began 16 years ago.

A native of Parma and a 1988 graduate of the University of Akron, Holzheimer said he always liked to work out. However, a routine physical in 1992 would give him the news that would change his life.

"I had an overabundance of protein in my blood," Holzheimer said. "From that day forward, I was seeing the doctor to see if my kidneys were going to fail."

For the next 14 years, Holzheimer was in a bit of limbo. Bi-annual tests showed his blood was "stable" throughout that time, but Holzheimer let his family know about his situation, which led to a conversation with Dave.

"About five years ago is when I found out he might need to have something done, because the situation was getting kind of critical, even though he didn't need it yet," Dave Holzheimer said. "I told him 'Just let me know what I need to do to donate a kidney.' It was already on loan five years ago."

The elder Holzheimer found out he would need that loan in December 2006, when a blood test revealed his blood was highly contaminated and he would need to begin blood dialysis treatment to survive.

Not long after the diagnosis, Holzheimer said his family and friends began the process of screening for a potential kidney donor. The news was good: both Dave and sister Donna Dowell were good matches for kidney donation.

According to Dave, the decision was made to let him be the donor because he was in better health, although Don said Dave was a bit more determined to give his brother a life-saving gift.

"He basically told my sister, 'Even if you want to do it, I'm going to go ahead and give it to him anyway,'" Don said with a laugh.

The elder Holzheimer brother was in the hospital for five days after the transplant and said the new kidney worked perfectly for him.

"Sometimes, a transplanted kidney has to go through dialysis in order to get moving, but I never had to go through that," Holzheimer said. "After seven to 10 days, my blood was clean. It was amazing."

A new lease on life

"The first time I heard about the games was during my pre-transplant screening," Holzheimer said. "My screening consultant told me 'Once you get your transplant, you'll be able to compete in the Transplant Games.' I said, 'What's that?'"

"That" is a gathering of transplant recipients every two years to compete in Olympic-style contests. Although U.S. Transplant Games are sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation, any person who has received an organ transplant, including bone marrow, is welcome to participate.

More than a chance to shine athletically, Holzheimer said it was a chance for him to meet other transplant recipients and share his story.

"Among my family and friends, I don't really have anybody who's experienced a transplant," Holzheimer said. "At the games, even though some had liver transplants or bone marrow transplants, all of us have been through pretty much the same thing."

Holzheimer said that camaraderie and the ability to spread awareness of the need for organ donors, are two of the biggest reasons for the games.

"I'll never miss another [round of games]," Holzheimer said. "I'll definitely be back in 2010 when the games are in Madison, Wisconsin."

In the run-up to this summer's games, Holzheimer said he chose swimming because the sport allowed him to compete without taking as much out of his body as track or field.

Holzheimer chose to swim the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle at the games -- for a very simple reason.

"Freestyle's the only stroke I know," Holzheimer said.

After a few months of training at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium -- and some emergency work on his flip turns -- Holzheimer made his way to Carnegie Mellon University, where the swimming events of the games took place.

Holzheimer finished third in the 100 in a time of 1:22.04 and third in the 200 in 3:21.06 to score his two medals. He also finished fourth in the 500 in a time of 9:25.17 and eighth in the 50 in a time of 33.99 seconds.

On the medal stand, Holzheimer had his daughter, Brittany Freeman, award him his first medal and had Dave present him with the second.

"It was great that he did it," Dave said. "The Transplant Games are good for people because it gives them a whole new lease on life."

Don is already thinking ahead to the 2010 games. He said he plans to learn the butterfly stroke to participate in a relay as part of Team Ohio at the next games.

For more information on the U.S. Transplant Games, visit the National Kidney Foundation Web site at www.kidney.org/news/tgames/.

E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com

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