My Story
I want to write to you about my experience battling kidney disease. It all started one fateful day on February 14th, 2014. I was treating patients at my chiropractic clinic when I started having a general feeling of unwellness. It was unusual so I wrapped up my work day and drove home to tell my wife about it. Needless to say, my wife was concerned as well, so I went to my primary care doctor and had some blood tests run. When I received a phone call about my blood test results, I was to go to the ER immediately. This is when I found out the worst news of my life. I was diagnosed with acute end-stage renal disease.
The next 7 years proved challenging. I was forced to retire, significantly change my diet, and undergo dialysis regularly. Despite how difficult it has been, I made a commitment to fight for my life and have been working hard to stay as healthy as possible.
People call me Gene
Before I continue, I want to tell you a little about who I am. I'm generally known by Gene or Eugene. I'm known for my wicked guitar strumming skills so you can also call me Geno Mars (based on my idol Bruno Mars).
I have a youthful and adventurous spirit. I am the guy that gets the party started and the last to go home. People tell me they love my energy and upbeat spirit.
More importantly however, I am a man who values my relationships. I enjoy cooking for my wife and two sons and can make all sorts of dishes from different cuisines. I make a mean udon, a Japanese soup dish with thick noodles.
I enjoy providing for others. I love lake fishing and bringing home delicious fish for my family and friends, and I have a garden where I grow all my favorite vegetables like zucchini and green beans.
I want to wake up before sunrise to go fishing and karaoke my heart out after sunset. I have hopes and dreams to see my two sons get married. I want to experience becoming a grandfather and growing old with my wife.
The Road Less Traveled
My challenge with renal failure has made me ponder my life and aspirations. I have thought hard about my purpose. I understood the next actions I took would be key to my survival. I decided it was my duty to better my health for me and my family. This motivation, in turn, led me to embrace a more active and healthy lifestyle.
I adopted a diet made specifically for patients with renal disease - no salt and no dairy. I carefully watched my fluid intake, and only ate foods that are approved for patients with renal disease (no bananas, tomatoes, or even avocados!)
I started exercising every day. I developed good habits and consistent routines, such as jogging at the park every morning. I was getting stronger and was moved up to the top of the list for patients seeking a kidney donation.
Things were looking up...
A Pivotal Moment
Life doesn't always...no...usually doesn't follow a linear path. Fairy tale endings happen in children's books. All is well in the world, enter some challenge, the hero overcomes the challenge and saves the world, and then blah blah happy ending. Real life tends to be a bit more...unpredictable. This has been the case for me.
On a sunny Sunday morning on November 17, 2019 I ate my usual breakfast of two egg whites, turkey loaf and 100% whole wheat toast which I coin the "Wada Breakfast of Good Fortune". Then I was off to my morning jog in the park. Unfortunately, the breakfast didn't give me the fortune I had hoped it would. Upon arriving at the park, I suffered a major cardiac arrest and fell to the ground. I don't remember that part though - all I remember is that one minute I was at the park, and the next I was waking up in a bed at the Little Company of Mary Hospital.
The doctors briefed me on what had happened, and I was informed that I had been in an induced coma for the past two weeks. They said I was lucky to be alive, with only a 10% survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests [1] and even luckier to have my mental faculties intact.
The Miracle
Though my cardiac arrest was clearly a disaster, a miracle had happened. The day I collapsed at the park, off-duty police officer Kaminsky had seen me and rushed over to perform CPR. He stayed with me and gave me CPR until ambulances arrived, and made sure I was taken care of all the way to the hospital. Officer Kaminsky truly saved my life that day, and I and my family are forever grateful to him for his courage and proactiveness.
Miracles do happen. I believe I was saved because I still have unfinished business on this earth. I'd like to re-emphasize my hopes and dreams to see my sons get married, to become a grandfather, and to live happily ever after with my wife and family. I want to create new memories and continue to support my family. This is my unfulfilled mission and I strongly believe it is the reason I am still here today.
A Call to Action
Thank you for visiting my website and reading my story. I am looking for another miracle, and that is to find an extraordinary individual who is looking to donate a kidney.
If you would like to help support me in any way, please send me a quick message by clicking the button below. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My Stats
- Weight: 140lbs
- Height: 5 ft 8 inches
- Blood Type: O+
About Eugene's Kidney Campaign
Eugene Wada is an accomplished chiropractor, a loving husband and a father of two. Eugene has had a successful career practicing chiropractic, holistic, and functional medicine. Through his practice, he has supported the health and wellbeing of residents of the community of Torrance and surrounding areas.
During his free time, he enjoys cooking, fishing, gardening, playing guitar, making music, dancing, and spending time with family.
This website was created as a family effort by his two sons Derek and Daniel, along with input from Eugene and Eugene's wife Susan.
Please also check out Eugene's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/eugeneskidneycampaign