The most important days of Kevin Jordan’s life were about baseball. That is, until he received a life-saving kidney from his baseball coach.
From Vienna, Ga, Jordan was noticed by Major League scouts early on in his career at Northside High School. His senior year, he committed to Wake Forest University, awaiting the draft. Suddenly however, Jordan’s started to feel weaker and weaker.
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“I wasn’t gonna sit out the playoffs, even though it was 95 degrees and I’m tired. But it just felt so different,” said Jordan.
He was diagnosed with ANCA vasculitis, a disease of the immune system that is so rare it only shows up in 1 in 55,000 people. It attacked Jordan’s kidneys.
Kevin was then selected by the New York Yankees in the MLB draft. He was at the hospital that day preparing for dialysis treatment. His kidneys were below functioning level. Jordan also had the rarest blood type, O-Negative.
“I had, I don’t know how many text messages from friends, coaches, and I didn’t look at any of them,” Jordan said. “It’s hard enough explaining why I’m not playing for the Yankees right now.”
Tom Walter, coach at the University of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit and helped rebuild many houses with his players. Walter was stunned when he met Kevin Jordan.
“We just said, Oh my God. I can’t believe what this young man’s been through the last six months of his life,” remarked Walter.
Kevin had to live by himself during his first semester of college. He went through dialysis every night while he slept. Then his coach stepped in.
Walter offered to donate if he was a match.
“I talked to him over the phone, and I could hear him grin from ear to ear. He was almost giddy,” said Walter.
The operation was a success. Both Water and Jordan are recovering, and Jordan cannot wait to get back on the field. He will be able to start training in two months.