Motivational

DaVita’s 2005 Kidney Idol: Valen Cover-Sheriff

For Valen Cover-Sheriff, visiting the doctor was a regular occurrence throughout childhood. At the age of five, she was diagnosed with epilepsy, a seizure disorder. She also underwent surgery to place two rods in her spine to correct severe scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). Valen relates, “Overcoming these health hurdles at such a young age helped me mentally deal with future polycystic kidney disease (PKD) obstacles on a more mature level.”

Finding out she had PKD

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a condition where cysts develop within the kidneys, affecting kidney function. Over time, the cysts grow and new cysts can appear. This can lead to kidney failure and other complications. PKD has a strong genetic link; patients who have PKD often have family members who also have the disease. When Valen was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at the age of 10, she was told that PKD progresses slowly. Her kidneys would probably not be affected until she was much older—perhaps in her 40s or 50s. Valen’s mother, who has PKD, had yet to show any symptoms; other members of Valen’s family who have PKD showed symptoms when they were older. But Valen started to have problems in her teen years. “I would have sporadic cyst bleeds that would cause a lot of pain. The worst case was during my senior year of high school. On our first day of vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I was sent to the hospital for cyst bleeds and stayed there for our entire vacation. I was too sick to handle the car ride home, and was flown home on an emergency medical plane. I missed the first half of my senior year due to this episode.”

Pushed to the limits

Even with her poor health, Valen kept at it and graduated from high school in the top 10% of her class and looked forward to starting college. She hoped to get her degree and become a kindergarten teacher, but an awful setback came in her freshman year. In the hospital because of terrible kidney pain, Valen was told the cysts on her kidneys would not stop bleeding. Valen needed many blood transfusions to stay alive. She also had brain seizures because her blood pressure would go too high. After a month and a half of little improvement, Valen was seen by specialists at Hopkins University. “By this time, all possible tests were performed, and my health was spiraling out of control. Something had to be done.” Although Valen’s kidneys were functioning at 60%, the decision was made to remove both of them, a procedure called bilateral nephrectomy.

While recovering from surgery, Valen had complications. Valen was losing blood quickly due to stomach bleeding, and if nothing could be done, she would die. She needed another surgery to repair her stomach, only two weeks after her kidneys were removed. Valen wondered if her body, already pushed to its limits, could handle any more. “That day my brother and a few close family friends came down to Hopkins. I later found out that my family and friends were there upon my parents’ request because my doctors were not sure if my body could handle one more day. I remember laying in intensive care looking at all of the faces around me, thinking that I would not live to see the next day. I was stunned with fear and doubted if my body could continue because I was so weak. There never seemed to be a light at the end of this dark tunnel, but then I would look into my parent’s eyes and knew I had something to fight for and began to focus and stay strong.”

The stomach surgery was a success, but the life-saving procedures took their toll. Valen was very weak, her body worn out from fighting to save itself. Valen and her family focused on her getting well. Valen wanted to get her body strong enough for a kidney transplant and to be placed on the waiting list. Although family members were willing to donate a kidney, Valen’s mother and brother both have PKD and Valen’s father has a different blood type. But Valen did not have to wait long. Two family friends offered to be tested to see if either of them could be a potential donor for Valen. Nearly eight months after both her kidneys were removed; Valen received her new kidney from donor Sally Robertson. Valen remembers, “When I woke up from surgery, I felt like a whole new person. I was so happy and had so much energy. I was given the greatest gift of all…life!”

A world of new beginnings

A healthy, functioning kidney opened new possibilities for Valen. No longer held back by cyst bleeds or long hospital stays, Valen could follow a number of different paths. “At this point, I was not sure how to act in life. All I knew for the past year was fighting for my life in the hospital. I did not know whether to go back to school or start working.”

Valen chose to work in order to pay her medical bills and save up for school. Her choice led her to another life changing experience: She met her future husband. Valen recalls, “The idea of saving money for school quickly changed when I met my husband, Justin. We worked together only four months and then we were engaged and we got married.”

Her struggle with PKD behind her, Valen began to think about what she could do to help others with the disease. Doing a search on the internet, Valen came across The Polycystic Kidney Foundation at http://www.pkdcure.org.  She saw the chapter closest to her was in Maryland. “I thought, great! I can help them. So I gave them a call.” Valen told her story to the chapter’s coordinator, who in turn told Valen’s amazing story to the PKD Foundation. Valen was later called by the PKD Foundation and asked if she would like to start a local chapter where she lives. Valen said yes.

Valen threw her energy and focus into starting the chapter. Determined to raise awareness and reach others who have been diagnosed with PKD, she began calling people in her area who had an interest in the PKD Foundation. Soon, the South Central Pennsylvania PKD chapter was formed. In 2004, Valen organized a walk, the chapter’s first annual fundraiser. Although flooded out because of Hurricane Ivan, the chapter still raised $24,000, a strong first effort for the new group and its beginner coordinator. The 2005 walk proved even more successful by raising $34,000 to help find a cure for PKD.

The Kidney Idol

Valen first heard about the DaVita Kidney Idol contest from the head of the New Jersey PKD chapter, who told Valen to send in her story. She said no, but her husband, Justin, and her mother sent in letters, nominating Valen. But when Valen got the call that she was a Kidney Idol finalist and was told that the person who nominated her was not a family member, but a chapter member named Lisa Dalto, Valen started to cry. “It was more rewarding that Lisa nominated me. I was so touched that she would do that.”

Like Valen, Lisa’s family has been affected by PKD. Her father has PKD, as did his mother, Lisa’s paternal grandmother. When Lisa’s parents became involved in the South Central Pennsylvania PKD chapter, they wanted Lisa to join. “My parents kept telling me about this amazing woman heading it,” Lisa recalls. Lisa has been diagnosed with PKD, as well as her three-year-old daughter, Paige. Most of Lisa’s family showed symptoms later in life, but hearing Valen speak about her experiences gave Lisa a new outlook on the disease. “Her story really brought it home for me. Valen once told me she wanted to find a cure before Paige was affected.” When Lisa heard about the DaVita Kidney Idol contest, she put her writing skills to work. Lisa wanted people to know about this humble, courageous woman who devoted her time to help others with PKD. Lisa was thrilled when Valen became a finalist.

So were Valen’s co-workers. Word spread at Valen’s work about the Kidney Idol contest and that Valen was a finalist. She would often hear coworkers asking each other, “Did you vote for Valen today?” The day the winner was announced, Valen checked the DaVita.com website. She saw the letter Lisa wrote nominating her, called “Valen’s Gift.” “At first, I was confused. I scrolled down to see if there was anything else on the page, the other stories. But mine was the only one there. I ran up the stairs to tell my husband I was the Kidney Idol!”

The future ahead

When people hear Valen’s story, they marvel at how she managed to overcome so much. Valen credits her parents with providing her with the strength she needed to meet the challenges head on. “The reason I have been able to stay so positive is owed to my parents, they were there for me all day every day and stayed by my side pulling me through all of my struggles. I was not blessed with good health, but I am certain of one thing, and that is I am blessed with two wonderful parents.”

Today, Valen is putting her energy and positive outlook on life into raising awareness for PKD. Recently named the PKD Foundation’s Chair for the 2005-2006 Campaign for the Cure, Valen has been asked to share her story at conferences. She says that sometimes it feels like she’s talking about someone else’s life, not her own. She can’t help but be in awe of how far she’s come. “If someone told me four years ago that I would be working full-time, speaking at conferences and going on a cruise, I would have said, ‘Yeah, right!’”

As for her dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher, Valen has no regrets. “It is funny to think I would be a college graduate right now if none of my health problems had held me back. At times I think about that and become sad, but then in a split second my thoughts completely change, because I would not be the person I have become today. Instead of teaching children their A-B-C’s I’m teaching my community about P-K-D.”