Feature Friday Post: “From Donation to Deadlifts”

A one-kidney, midlife, messy, strong-as-hell kind of journey.

Almost twelve years ago, I donated a kidney. I didn’t do it for applause or to feel heroic. I did it because someone needed it, and I had one to give. But what I didn’t expect was how that single, generous act would become the start of an even bigger story—a story I’m still writing every day.

Because what came after the donation wasn’t a straight line.
It was heartbreak. Divorce. Grief. Weight gain. Perimenopause. Exhaustion.
It was rebuilding from the inside out.

And in that messy, foggy, soul-searching space, something unexpected started to happen: I started moving my body. First because I couldn’t sleep. Then because I needed to clear my head. Then because I started to feel strong.

And then?
I kept going.

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🧡 A New Kind of Strength

I didn’t grow up athletic. I wasn’t the girl with a varsity jacket or a stack of race bibs. But somehow—somewhere between bike rides, hikes, roller skates, and red dirt trails—I found joy in motion. And eventually, I found the gym. I found dumbbells. I found deadlifts.

And let me tell you… pulling your own body weight off the ground with one kidney?
That’s power.

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🌿 One Kidney. One Body. Infinite Strength.

I still have bad days. My body still doesn’t “bounce back” the way it used to.
But I’ve learned that strength isn’t about being fast or lean or perfect.
It’s about showing up. Over and over. With grace. With grit. With gratitude.

Lifting has taught me how to live differently. It’s not about chasing skinny or punishing my body. It’s about honoring it. Celebrating what it can do. Saying, “Thank you” for what it still carries.

And every time I share that story—whether it’s through officiating a wedding, pacing a trail, or standing under a barbell—I get to remind others that it’s never too late to come home to yourself.

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✨ Want to Know the Best Part?

I get to be living proof that your story isn’t over at 40. Or after a donation. Or when everything falls apart.
I get to show my grandkids what strength really looks like.
I get to move, love, lift, and live—with one kidney and a full heart.

So here’s to starting again.
To getting strong.
To lifting heavy and loving harder.

Because this adventure?
It’s just getting started.

☀️ Sunshine says:
“Your past doesn’t limit your strength—it builds it. One kidney, countless reps, and a heart full of purpose. This body saves lives and lifts heavy.” 💪🏽🕊️