#NephMadness 2024: Why Team Pancreas-Kidney Should Be Crowned the 2024 Champion

Gabriel Cooper

Gabriel Cooper received a kidney-pancreas transplant in 2021 at Cedars Sinai. He is a clinical psychotherapist in Los Angeles who works with kidney and transplant patients and specializes in anxiety, self-esteem, and relationships. He is an endurance runner and honors his deceased donor with every race.

The remaining competitors, our Left and Right Kidneys:

Team Gila Monster vs Team Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation

Sidney and Franc. My transplanted kidney and pancreas. The journey through and out the other side of transplant has illuminated the immense physical and emotional toll of organ failure. Since age 14, I’ve grappled with the challenges of type-1 diabetes, progressively compromising both my kidneys until ESRD at age 30. The burden of managing these dual afflictions exacted a toll not only on my physical health but also strained my daily functioning and capabilities in innumerable subtle and, at times, invisible ways.

Each day brought new challenges as I navigated the ceaseless demands of chronic illnesses. Pursuing kidney-pancreas transplantation was both daunting and a glimmer of hope of relief from type-1 diabetes management and kidney failure. No holidays, weekends, nor a lunch break. The burden of type 1 diabetes in tandem with kidney failure was a 1000 lb weight that no device, low-carb diet, or healthy lifestyle choice in the world could unshackle me from. One key exists however – kidney-pancreas transplantation.

Sidney and Franc transformed my life. Kidney-pancreas transplantation not only alleviated the physical symptoms of diabetes and kidney disease but also liberated me from constant worry. It brought renewed vitality and restored balance to a body that had not known it since age 14.  My resilience was built extremely high over the years of grading organ failure. In retrospect, I see all of the slow and subtle screaming I managed on a daily basis. Still, it is difficult to comprehend.

A troubling gap in awareness about pancreas transplantation emerged during my journey. Despite knowing many individuals with type 1 diabetes, none were informed about the possibility of a pancreas transplant, even those with kidney complications. This lack of visibility underscores the need for increased awareness about pancreas transplantation’s efficacy in treating type 1 diabetes, extending kidney function, and dramatically improving quality of life.

Continued advancements into kidney-pancreas transplantation are essential for ultimately improving outcomes for the growing numbers of type 1 diabetics and transplant recipients. Moreover, accessibility to kidney-pancreas transplantation is critical in ensuring equitable access to life-saving interventions. My journey underscores its transformative power but also highlights the need for greater awareness, research, and accessibility.

Not enough others get a Sidney and a Franc.

– Guest Post written by Gabriel Cooper

As with all content on the AJKD Blog, the opinions expressed are those of the author of each post, and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the AJKD Blog, AJKD, the National Kidney Foundation, Elsevier, or any other entity unless explicitly stated.

Click to read the Dual-Organ Transplant Region

Current Standings | Match Results | NephMadness 2024 | @NephMadness |

• The Renal Warrior Project. Join Now
• Source: https://ajkdblog.org/2024/04/05/nephmadness-2024-why-team-pancreas-kidney-should-be-crowned-the-2024-champion/