Brandon Twp.-Carol Woodbridge was near death when she got the call.
Her phone rang at 11 p.m. on July 18, 1996. It was her doctor, telling her to get to Hurley Hospital in Flint. She was going to receive a kidney transplant.
Next week, Woodbridge will celebrate the ninth anniversary of her life-saving operation when she competes in the World Transplant Games. She was one of 100 athletes in the United States selected for the Games, scheduled for July 16-23 in London, Ontario. A total of 1,000 athletes, who have had life-saving transplants and represent 54 countries, will compete in swimming, cycling, basketball, volleyball and track and field events.
‘I am awestruck that I was selected to represent Team USA,? said Woodbridge. ‘I don’t want to let anyone down. I want to represent in a physical and patriotic way.?
Woodbridge, 45, has battled diabetes most of her life. She was diagnosed with the disease when she was 14-years-old. As a child, she had many food restrictions. She has Type 1 diabetes and is insulin dependent. The Brandon Schools substitute teacher gives herself four injections per day.
In 1993, Woodbridge lost her eyesight from diabetic retinopathy, regaining it after 22 laser eye surgeries. She now has tunnel vision. The same year she got end-stage kidney disease. She began continual ambulatory peritoneal dialysis? three times a day, seven days a week, 45 minutes each time. But after four years of dialysis, she was failing. Her skin was gray and she had no energy. She was dying.
The transplant not only saved her life, but changed it.
‘I am blessed to the nth degree,? said Woodbridge. ‘I would be dead today. I’ve had nine extra years of life. I look at every day as if it could be my last.?
In the early days following her transplant, Woodbridge was very depressed. Despite her disease, she had been active, swimming and biking. But after the operation, walking 100 feet would wipe her out, she says.
She kept walking and also increased other physical activities, swimming and mountain biking more. She learned to waterski.
In 2000 and 2002, she competed in the U.S. Transplant Games, cycling in the 1-mile sprint and the 20-mile endurance race in the 40-49 age category. She won two gold medals.
In 2004, she competed again, but this time in both cycling and swimming. She didn’t medal in cycling, but placed second in swimming. Managers for Team USA watched her swim and believed her style to be world-class. They chose Woodbridge last fall to compete in this year’s World Games. Woodbridge will swim in the 50-meter freestyle, the 50-meter breaststroke and the 50-meter backstroke.
‘This will be my first World Games and I am excited as all get out to meet people from around the world who have been through the same thing,? says Woodbridge. ‘It’s so exciting.?
Last fall, Woodbridge went to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor to be tested for a pancreas transplant to rid herself at last of diabetes. When a required kidney biopsy was done, the doctors found she was in severe rejection. Medications stopped the rejection. Woodbridge now must wait until her transplanted kidney fails before she can have a dual transplant, but it isn’t getting her down.
‘Some people don’t appreciate health,? she says. ‘You’re given one body, one chance. I was given a second chance and I’m not going to ruin it.?
When she goes to the World Games, she knows exactly what she wants to do.
‘I want to show the world that we, transplant recipients, can lead normal lives and encourage others to donate organs to help other people who need transplant to also lead normal lives.?