Tracey's Story
Donating a kidney didn’t slow ultra runner Tracey Hulick down one bit. A 62.1-mile ultramarathon? No problem for this second-place finisher.
Name: Tracey Hulick
City/Town: Lakewood, Colorado
Age at Donation: 39
Occupation: Senior Manager at a bank based in Madison, Wisconsin
Date of Donation: May 23, 2017
Hospital and Location: UW Health University Hospital; Madison, Wisconsin
Did you know your recipient?
I did not! At first, I was looking for someone on Matching Donors to donate to, but it didn’t feel right for me to pick. I may sound ‘woo woo’, but I wanted grace to pick, not me. As soon as I learned of kidney donor chains, I knew that was what I wanted to do. It was definitely the most effective altruism I have ever heard of! Four people received kidneys because of mine, so I am very happy with that decision.
What made you decide to donate?
I heard about living kidney donation the very first day of school in seventh grade. A classmate shared that over the summer her uncle donated his kidney to her cousin and that they were both doing fine. I immediately thought that was the most amazing thing I had ever heard. Meanwhile everyone else in the classroom started talking about how crazy that was, how risky it was, and how they didn’t think they could ever do it! I was shocked by that. I felt that there was some sort of reason why I was the only one in the room that felt the way I did, so right then I put it on my mental list of things I would do someday.
Was it a tough decision?
Not in the least. I knew I wanted to do it; it was just deciding when the right time was. My love for running also started in seventh grade (that was a big year for me!), so as years passed and I began running further and further, I knew I’d donate when I was ready to take a break from distance running for a while. I’m someone who relies on gut instinct for decisions. If something feels right, I do it no matter what. This was one of those kinds of decisions.
Less than a year after donating a kidney, Tracey was back to 15-mile training runs. It wasn’t long before she was competing and placing in even longer events like this one. (Image: Twain Wilkins, Liberty Pro Imaging)
Tracey started Kidney Donor Athletes to give donors the support she was looking for during her donation process.
What were your biggest concerns about donating?
I have always been really active, so my main concern was how long it would take me to get back to working out regularly. I spent a lot of time looking for examples of athletes who were donors, and I had a heck of a time finding anyone! I knew there had to be athlete donors out there, but I came up empty-handed.
How did your family and friends react when you told them you were going to donate?
My family was very supportive, which I honestly didn’t expect, and greatly appreciated. Many of my closest friends were not very supportive at all, which I also didn’t expect. The amount of animosity I received for my choice pre-surgery was shocking to me and made the experience a lot harder than it needed to be. I understand that people were scared for me, but the way many of them showed it was not helpful at all. Most of them referenced my running, and asked how I would deal with it if I couldn’t run post-op. I had faith that I would be able to, and got very frustrated with people’s constant concern about that. I became very quiet about my donation in the last few months leading up to it, and even my significant other at the time didn’t want me to do it. It made for a lonely road leading into surgery.
How did your surgery go?
The surgery went smoothly! I had a lot of emotions going into it and kept crying even though I didn’t feel scared – I think it was just the anticipation bubbling over! In the pre-op room, my surgeon (Dr. Foley) sat with me and talked with me until I felt calm. Once we were ready to head to the operating room, he gave me a fist bump and I said, “Let’s go save some lives!” With that, they wheeled me in, and he played some fun music in the operating room while I drifted off to sleep.
What was your recovery like while you were in the hospital?
I expected to be able to walk the halls the same day since my surgery was in the morning, but that didn’t pan out. I have always been sensitive to medications of any kind, even cold medicine, so the anesthesia really knocked me on my butt. A few times, the nurses tried to get me up to walk, and I’d collapse back on the bed. I remember thinking how weird it was that my legs couldn’t hold me – that has never happened!
The next day I was clearer in the head, able to get out of bed and walk unassisted, and felt better than I expected. I didn’t have any pain at all from the gas they pump into you during surgery which, I’m thankful for. My core felt like I did a million sit-ups, but no acute pain. My vision was blurry for a few days, but since I couldn’t drive it didn’t matter.
I had to keep a list of people that came to visit because I was so forgetful, and was surprised by how tired I would get just walking a lap around the hospital floor. The second morning I walked by myself to get a cup of “good” coffee from the café on the other side of the hospital. I had to sit there for about 10 minutes before I could start my walk back – I wasn’t sure I’d make it! But the cappuccino tasted great so it was worth it!
What was your recovery like at home?
I lived alone at the time, so I had different people stay with me. It was helpful for the first couple days home since I didn’t have the appetite or energy to cook, and I was thankful to have company when I would walk around the block. By the third day at home, I was ready to have some time alone! I definitely didn’t need a caretaker for the full week that was recommended.
I was off pain meds after two days at home and was driving at about nine days post-op. Recovery was smooth physically, just dealing with a lot of exhaustion, so there were multiple naps every day. I’d have a good day or two and then a day or two of being significantly tired, so it was up and down, but manageable. I did struggle mentally for about ten days with not working and not working out the way I was used to. It was definitely a mild depression, so I spent as much time as I could outside and in the woods, which always helps.
What was the most difficult part of recovery?
I would say that the mild depression that lasted for about 10 days was the hardest part. I had a good support system and have never been good at relaxing, so it’s not a surprise that I felt that way. I also am very impatient by nature so the length of time it took to truly get my endurance back in running was hard for me. I ran marathons and ultras (up to 50 miles) before donation, and it took 11 months to fully feel 100% back to normal running more than 15 miles. I will never forget that day in April of 2018! I knew I was back!
I have since raced a 50-miler and a 100k at elevation in Colorado and was on the podium for each one, so I am definitely full strength now.
When did you return to work?
I returned after four weeks but didn’t get back to full eight-hour days until just after five weeks. I underestimated how hard it would be to sit up in a chair for that long! My core would get really sore and fatigued, and I’d have to lean against the back most of the day. The amount of human interaction also really tired me out. My employer and most everyone I worked with were extremely supportive, so they were very understanding.
How long was the process from making the first contact about donating until your surgery?
It was longer than six months, but I don’t remember the exact length. I was pretty specific about the date I wanted to donate because I wanted to have my recovery be in the best weather possible, so I was shooting for the third week in May. Southern Wisconsin in the spring is wonderful ,and I knew I wanted to be able to spend as much time as I could outside, even if I was just sitting there in the fresh air.
Is there anything about being a kidney donor that's surprised you?
I didn’t expect to find such an awesome living donor community! Some of my best friends are donors now, and it’s a great connection to have with someone.
I also never expected to do advocacy work or start my own non-profit! As I recovered, I thought more and more about how isolated I felt leading into donation, and I didn’t want others to feel that way if I could help it. Eventually, I formed Kidney Donor Athletes. It’s where I feature a new donor athlete story each week, and also have a mentoring program available so anyone even considering going through the process can be paired with someone who has been in their shoes. It means a lot that I could create a resource for other people that helps them feel understood and supported. So far, I have featured nearly 50 athletes and have mentors available in 46 states and six countries outside of the U.S.!
Would you do it again?
I absolutely would do it again if I could! It has changed my life in such wonderful ways, I appreciate my body so much more, and love living by example to show what is truly possible as a living donor!