EP 113: "Living in the Moment: Zach Wells on Overcoming Adversity and the Gift of Hope"

Episode Summary

In this inspiring episode, Zach Wells a TV sports anchor shares his incredible journey of receiving a kidney donation from his brother. Zach opens up about the unexpected news that his kidney was failing and the challenges he faced battling kidney disease, and the profound lessons he learned about hope, resilience, and the importance of prioritizing health. Tune in as Zach offers a raw and honest conversation about overcoming adversity and the power of family, health, and seizing the moment.

 

 

Episode Highlights

• Zach Wells was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2007 and experienced a gradual decline in kidney function before receiving a transplant in 2018.
• He recalls the moment he first learned something was wrong—his wife left him a message from a business trip, urging him to check his test results after his doctor raised concerns about his creatinine levels.
• Determined to manage his condition, Zach relied on diet, exercise, and medication but ultimately knew that a transplant was the best path forward.
• Before his diagnosis, Zach was a self-proclaimed workaholic, often neglecting his health in favor of his career. He later realized that without prioritizing his well-being, his time was limited.
• He reflects on the physical toll of kidney disease—the fatigue, nausea, and other symptoms—while balancing parenthood and work responsibilities.
• Throughout his journey, Zach found unwavering support from his wife, Caroline, and his family, which made all the difference.
• His brother turned out to be a perfect donor match, bringing renewed hope and gratitude.
• Zach discusses the emotional and physical impact of his illness, the dedication of his medical team, and the perspective he gained through this experience.
• Inspired by Zach’s story, Andi sheds light on the kidney transplant crisis and the need for greater awareness about living donors.
• Prospective donors undergo rigorous screening, but their generosity can transform the lives of over 100,000 people currently on the transplant waitlist.
• When asked for advice to men facing kidney disease or dialysis, Zach encourages them to stay present, be patient, and stay committed to their medical care and fitness routines.
• He highlights the importance of hope, scientific advancements, and the skilled professionals who make transplants possible.
• Zach expresses deep gratitude for his transplant surgeon, doctors, and everyone who played a role in his recovery.

 

Key Takeaways

1. Zach’s journey with kidney disease began in 2007, leading to a transplant in 2018.
2. His initial reluctance to seek medical care due to work commitments taught him a valuable lesson about balance and self-care.
3. The support of his family, medical team, and a generous kidney donation from his brother gave him a second chance at life. He now finds joy in the little things and is committed to raising awareness about kidney disease and transplantation.

Tweetable Quotes:

 

1. “So about managing the disease, doing everything I could to be as healthy as I could, drink as much water as I could, have the best diet that I possibly could, knowing that probably the chances of this reversing, the chances of this having a better outcome, were not going to be a very high so it's a long road.” - Zach Wells
2. “I think transplants really reward the patient. They reward the dutiful, they reward the optimistic.” - Zach Wells
3. “I was a workaholic. All I thought about was work. And I thought that I can't deal with this or go to the doctor, because that's going to interfere with my work schedule. But I learned very quickly that if I didn't get balance and prioritize this as another full-time job, that I wasn't going to be around very long.” - Zach Wells
4. “I was not feeling well at all. I was run down. I had like, bags under my eyes. I would randomly sweat, I felt nauseous.” - Zach Wells
5. “I think that that's one of the many areas where I've been so lucky, is just having an incredible support network of people that have really helped me. That's amazing.” - Zach Wells
6. “What I want to do is, like, really draw attention to the fact that this is an incredibly solvable problem. Yes, like the people that are waiting, like, the waiting list is over 100,000.” - Zach Wells

Resources:

https://getoffthelist.org/

https://www.networkforhope.org/

https://www.networkforhope.org/about-us/

https://www.facebook.com/NetworkForHopeOPO

https://www.youtube.com/@NetworkforHope.

https://aopo.org/