Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Ex-Lane Tech Football Star Clings To Life Waiting For Kidney Transplant

By Justin Breen | April 25, 2017 5:04am
 Marshall Cheatham
Marshall Cheatham
View Full Caption
Provided

CHICAGO — Marshall Cheatham prays every day for a second chance.

The Near West Side native and former football star at Lane Tech has end-stage renal failure. For the past three years and three months, the 56-year-old has been on a waiting list for a new kidney. His kidneys are not functioning and the dialysis Cheatham receives three times a week for five hours at a time is keeping him alive.

"Prior to this I was relatively healthy and had no idea that I was even sick," said Cheatham, who played football at Vanderbilt and for the past 14 years has run a nonprofit called The Saints Drumline, which provides musical instructions to disadvantaged children.

Cheatham, of Columbus, Ohio, is a speaker for Lifeline of Ohio, a group that tries to bring awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. He originally had been involved with Lifeline of Ohio because The Saints Drumline drum and bugle corps would kick off the organization's "Annual Dash for Donation" event.

 Marshall Cheatham (center) was a standout football player at Lane Tech.
Marshall Cheatham (center) was a standout football player at Lane Tech.
View Full Caption
Provided

"Little did I know that I would be needing their services after a couple years," Cheatham said. "Sometimes 10 to 20 people can receive the second chance on life just because a person checked that box on their drivers license for organ donation. I may sound morbid, but you can't take them with you when you are gone, so why not help someone else that is struggling with health challenges have a second chance."

Cheatham was an all-state defensive lineman in the late 1970s. He was considered "massive" at the time at 6 feet, 2 inches and 250 pounds. He weighs about 285 pounds now, in huge part because his kidneys are not working. Most of the fluids he consumes are retained until they're removed during dialysis.

He learned about his failing kidneys more than five years ago when doctors told him his kidneys were functioning at 30 percent and would eventually fail. Cheatham has Type O negative blood, which means only those with that blood type — just seven percent of the population — can be potential donor matches.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 100,000 people are waiting for kidney transplants nationwide and 13 people die each day waiting for a transplant.

"In spite of all the trials and tribulations, I am truly blessed and have lived a full life," Cheatham said. "I pray that I get a second chance so that I can continue to be a blessing to others."

If he gets a transplant, Cheatham said one of his first duties will be to visit Chicago and see some of his former Lane Tech teammates.

"I have a very large high school community that would love to see," he said. "I have not been able to attend any of the reunions or football games, but after my transplant I plan to make up for lost time."

For more information on kidney donation, click here.