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Meet Chris
Chris Klug is the first-ever organ transplant recipient and bronze medalist in the sport of snowboarding. Seventeen months before he stood on the podium in Salt Lake City in February 2002 to collect his medal, he received a life-saving liver transplant.
Chris is dedicated to his involvement in the transplant community by regularly visiting transplant recipients, donor families, and those awaiting a second chance. He shares his message of organ donation and quality of life post-transplant.
How it all began
In 1991, Chris was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease (football great Walter Payton died from PSC). Chris' condition became critical in 2000. On July 28, 2000, a teenage boy died in a tragic accident. His parents decided to donate his organs and Chris received his transplant. Like most transplant recipients, Chris considers his organ a “gift of life”—and in return he gives a great deal back. He bounced back quickly, returning to the slopes a mere seven weeks after the surgery, and was racing after four months.
Looking back after 5 years
“Because I'm now healthier and stronger than I was before my transplant, I sometimes forget about my surgery. At the same time though, after you've been through the waiting list process, hoping and praying each day for the call, you are given a new perspective on life, that you never lose sight of. However, I don't want people to think that after five years, I'm an expert. I'm not. In fact, I'm still getting the hang of things. I've learned to take good care of my health, listen to my body, and never forget to take my meds—and I don't freak out as badly now when I get a cold.”
The process of having an organ transplant has also given Chris a unique perspective. “In many ways, I'm a better athlete and a more competitive snowboarder now—which surprises people. It may have something to do with the fact that I'm more relaxed, and that I never take things for granted!”
Waiting For An Organ
The process of the waiting list can be frustrating, frightening, and seemingly endless. Chris understands and encourages patients. “Not knowing if you're going to receive that call is a hard thing to experience. When I talk to people getting ready for their surgery, I tell them that the toughest part is over. Recovery is comparatively simple to being on the list.”
About the Medications
If there's one thing that every transplant recipient knows about, it's the medications. There are plenty to take, and staying motivated and organized can be a challenge. “I can see how some people get in trouble—I feel healthier than ever right now. When you feel good, your medications don't seem that important. Certainly for younger patients, it's understandable why they want to test it. Adherence to your medication schedule is a big part of my message, to let people know that's what's going to keep you alive and feelin' good.”
Figuring Out What Works for You
One common theme among all transplant recipients is the need to protect their organ
and guard their health. Everyone has a slightly different approach to managing
the medicines. To help Chris stay on top of his game and on top of his meds, there are a few things he has learned to help combine a busy life and a health routine.
“When I'm on the road, particularly when I'm in another country, I wash my hands even more
often, and I drink only bottled water. And, in order to make sure I'm timing my medications
right, I've been known to wear two watches. It's a glamorous look. One is set to the local time
zone of the country I'm in. The other one is set to where I live Every day, I adjust the time I take
my meds by an hour. It can mean that I have to set an alarm in the middle of the night to take a
pill —but it's worth it. Also, I make sure I've always got back-up medications in someone else's bag—you never know what's going to happen. In fact, I once missed my hotel's check-out time, and they threw my medication away, thinking they were trash. I can laugh about digging through the trash cans now, but back then it didn't seem so funny.”
Perspective
When Chris was growing up, he never would have dreamed that he was going to be a transplant recipient, but he did dream of becoming a champion. He made that dream a reality. Whether he's cruising down a mountain or talking to transplant recipients and their families, Chris is an inspiration to us all, showing what is possible when you dream big.
You can learn more about Chris Klug at his website www.chrisklug.com, or in his new book To the Edge and Back.
Chris hopes to compete in the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. We wish him good luck
and good health.
Prograf® (tacrolimus capsules and injection) is approved for the prevention of rejection in patients who have received a liver or kidney transplant. Only physicians and facilities specializing in transplantation should manage patients taking Prograf. Anti-rejection medications may result in an increased possibility of developing an infection or lymphoma, a type of cancer.
In clinical studies, up to 20% of patients taking Prograf developed insulin dependent diabetes after transplant, but in some patients, after two years, insulin was no longer required. Black and Hispanic kidney transplant patients were at an increased risk.
Prograf has been associated with toxicity to the kidneys and nervous system. Common side effects are tremor, headache, high blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea and changes in kidney function.
Prograf should not be used in patients allergic to tacrolimus. Prograf injection should not be used in patients allergic to castor oil.
Only your healthcare professional can weigh the risks and benefits of a prescription medicine and decide if this medication is the right one for you.
Prograf Prescribing Information 
Prograf Patient Information
Prograf Safety Information
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