Running for Life: A Columbus Athlete Shares His Story

Brandon Talley was a college football player when he was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 19. He had slipped into a coma when his blood sugar was 600 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL (a normal blood sugar reading is under 100 mg/dL for a person who doesn’t have diabetes and under 140 mg/dL for a person who has diabetes). As a result, he had to step away from college and his football career.

As he learned how to manage his diabetes and his overall health, Brandon worked for the city of Columbus, eventually becoming a fitness instructor and a PEAK teacher. He held those two professions simultaneously for almost 20 years. Then, in 2019, Brandon began to experience edema (swelling), but he wasn’t diagnosed with kidney disease until an episode of low blood sugar caused him to have a car accident.

At the time, Brandon had thought that fatigue from exercise and intensive training was causing his symptoms, and he was surprised to learn that they were actually signs of nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that causes the kidneys to release high levels of protein in urine, leading to excess swelling in the body. While Brandon was recovering in the hospital, doctors were able to treat the syndrome, but the damage to Brandon’s kidneys was irreversible.

Brandon was also told that he would need to go on dialysis. But as he received treatment for his physical condition, he faced mental health and financial problems, as well. Since he was young, his lifestyle was incredibly active and focused on improving physical fitness. And now, it felt as though his life had just stopped; he could no longer work or teach, and he didn’t have the energy to play with his children anymore. Brandon felt angry and disheartened about the situation.

 Then, one morning, he woke up and decided that things were going to change. He got back into shape and began to run marathons. Since last year, Brandon has run 17 marathons, helping to raise money for various causes like arthritis, breast cancer, and childhood dyslexia.

Brandon was featured as a keynote speaker at the National Kidney Foundation’s Gift of Life Gala and he attends many virtual Zoom events throughout the year. He also participated in the Kidney Walk and encourages others to do the same. He is currently on two transplant lists and is looking for a living donor.

In the meantime, Brandon continues to run and advocate for people with kidney disease. He emphasizes the importance of listening to healthcare professionals and following their instructions. But managing kidney disease doesn’t stop there—Brandon is also a firm believer in “doing your homework” on the stage and progression of the condition outside of a medical setting. Every patient’s experience with kidney disease is unique, and supplementing the doctor’s orders with knowledge can inspire confidence for the road ahead.