By creator to www.wric.com
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Mills Godwin Eagles and Glen Allen Jaguars women volleyball groups had been met with a sea of inexperienced at Godwin Excessive Faculty Thursday night time, all in help of organ donors and their coach, Chris Wakefield, who’s battling a essential sickness.
For 10 seasons, Wakefield has led the ladies volleyball workforce at Mills Godwin. The workforce celebrated its 200th win underneath his watch on Oct. 5.
“Truthfully, it’s been the gamers,” he stated. “We preach loads in regards to the tradition that we construct right here. But it surely actually wouldn’t be something with out the gamers.”
That tradition is strictly what senior guardian Jill Taylor stated makes the workforce like a household.
“Proper from the beginning, he has had a stable actually type of approach that he teaches all of them, and it’s about tradition,” she stated. “It’s not simply in regards to the abilities on the courtroom, though he’s fairly sharp about that.”
That’s why the Henrico County group has rallied round Coach Wakefield as he battles advanced-stage kidney failure.
“It’s heartwarming for positive,” he informed 8News earlier than the varsity volleyball sport. “I can’t converse on it sufficient as a result of it type of takes the phrases out of my mouth. I’m an individual that talks loads, however I don’t have phrases for this second.”
For the Eagles-Jaguars matchup, and in help of Wakefield, the Henrico County group wore inexperienced, the colour of help for organ donors. “Group Wakefield” and “Kidney four Coach” indicators adorned the hallways {and gymnasium}.
Wakefield has been battling polycystic kidney illness for greater than 20 years. However not too long ago, Taylor stated that it has gotten worse. The illness has now advanced into advanced-stage kidney failure, requiring Wakefield to both get a transplant or start dialysis therapy.
“The understanding was all the time if coach wanted a break or to do something, that he had an underlying situation. He just about by no means wanted a break. He’s relentless in his give attention to the courtroom,” Taylor stated. “Within the final yr or two, he’s, possibly, wanted to be slightly bit extra verbal about it. So we’ve been listening. After which, not too long ago, earlier this yr, he went forward and stated, ‘Okay, I’m going to be heading within the path of kidney transplant,’ and that’s when it type of bought critical.”
Wakefield informed 8News that his mom is a transplant survivor.
Proper now, he’s ready for a donor match. If he’s unable to discover a match, his kidneys will fail, and he’ll flip to dialysis therapy.
“I bought into the transplant record in September,” Wakefield stated. “When you’re accepted, you’re just about in a ready sport.”
The Mills Godwin group is attempting to ensure it doesn’t come to that.
At Thursday night time’s sport, there was a donation field, raffles and details about signing as much as turn out to be an organ donor and a potential match for Wakefield.
“One of many issues I’ve discovered about on this course of is {that a} group is prepared to assist it doesn’t matter what,” Wakefield stated. “I used to be very fearful about asking for assist with the unknown of what would occur, and it’s put an enormous smile on my face due to the quantity of help that I’ve gotten from individuals who wish to assist.”
These concerned about donating a kidney for Wakefield can click here.
Extra inquiries may be submitted through electronic mail: kidneyforwakefield@gmail.com
donors don’t essentially should have blood kind O. Donors might match with others in want of a transplant and find yourself serving to these exterior the Henrico County group.
“If it was somebody in certainly one of our households that wanted the kidney, he’d be main the cost,” Taylor stated. “He leads the cost for the ladies in every little thing else.”
— to www.wric.com
