Olympic Champ Missy Franklin on Her Personal Connection to Kidney Disease & Why Health Advocacy Is ‘Paramount’

This article is sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., for which Missy Franklin is a paid spokesperson.

As a retired Olympic athlete, the support from my family was paramount in helping me achieve the swimming career I had. Swimming will always be a part of my life, and I will always have a love for the sport due to the memories and opportunities it gave me.

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2018, embracing the roles of mother and wife has brought me immense joy. The transition has allowed me to focus on advocating for family health, with a particular emphasis on understanding hereditary diseases like autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which affects my own family. ADPKD, the most common form of PKD, is a genetic disease that causes cysts to form on the kidneys. Over time, these cysts make it harder for the kidneys to function, which can lead to kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Throughout my life, my family has always been very supportive and tight-knit. My parents kept me grounded and regularly stressed the importance of family values. I learned early on that family was a priority, and we encouraged and embraced open communication. This was especially important when my father was diagnosed with ADPKD. We all rallied to support him following his diagnosis and discussed what living with ADPKD meant. I remember early conversations with my parents that my dad lived with a genetic kidney disease, but at the time, I don’t think I fully understood what that meant.

In early 2022, we learned that my father’s ADPKD was rapidly progressing. His nephrologist discussed a hard new reality with us – my dad would be facing either dialysis or a kidney transplant. It was at this moment that I realized that the roles had reversed and the immense support my family gave me during my career was the support I now needed to give my father throughout his journey with ADPKD.

Ultimately, my father was lucky enough to receive a kidney transplant in 2022 from – remarkably – fellow Olympic athlete and swimmer, Crissy Perham. Crissy will always be family to us for being that person who saved my dad, and both are doing fantastic now. We even named the kidney that Crissy gave to save my dad “Olympia” to commemorate this connection we have.

Staying healthy has always been paramount for me as an athlete, but it became even more so after learning about the presence of ADPKD in my family. Each child of a parent with ADPKD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. This knowledge has sharpened my focus on proactive health measures and early detection. Today, routine health screenings and ongoing consultations with my healthcare team are foundational to how I actively manage my health, ensuring I remain ahead in caring for myself and my family.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the 2024 Summer Olympics and was reminded of the precious memories and the lifelong bonds formed during my time as an Olympian. These experiences have profoundly influenced my life, including my work in health advocacy. Like the Olympic spirit that unites athletes as one family, I aim to cultivate a community spirit among families dealing with ADPKD, inspiring them to take control of their health and thrive together.

I strongly encourage everyone to advocate for their health. Early detection is important for those with ADPKD, so initiating those vital conversations about your family’s health history can be helpful in the long run. ADPKD can rapidly progress and drastically impact a person’s overall health and well-being. If ADPKD is a part of your family’s health history, visit DiveIntoADPKD.com to learn more and find resources to support your journey.

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This article was originally published on sheknows.com.