When Ontario’s Craig Thompson decided to donate a kidney to his mother, Cathie, he knew the stakes were high. A competitive runner who had raced internationally, Thompson was prepared to give up his sport for good if it meant saving his mother’s life. “If that meant I would never run again, I would have still been her donor,” he told Canadian Running. Fortunately, his running journey didn’t end there, and not only was Thompson able to give his mother a second chance at life, but he also made an inspiring return to the track.
A family commitment
Cathie’s kidney function had been declining for years, leaving her with two options: dialysis or a transplant. Craig immediately volunteered to be tested as a donor, and was confirmed as a strong match. Despite his mother’s initial refusal (her instinct as a parent to protect her child), Craig’s persistence won her over.
While Craig was committed to donating his kidney whether he was able to run in the future or not, he couldn’t ignore the hope of returning to the sport he loved. To fuel his recovery, he set an ambitious goal: to compete in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sweden in August. “This meant I had five months to prepare,” he said.
A determined comeback
The journey back to running began humbly—with slow walks down hospital hallways. “In March, I started working out by walking the hallways of the hospital,” he shares. Gradually, those walks turned into jogs, and by June, just three months after his surgery, Craig was back on the track. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible people in my life,” Craig notes, crediting his wife Jen, his coach, Paul Osland, and the trainers who guided him through his recovery.
Against the odds, Thompson not only competed, but also matched his times from two years previously, a feat he calls a personal victory. “At my age, you usually get slower every year, so I call that a win. Maybe I’m a bit faster without that second kidney weighing me down,” he jokes.
New perspectives
Cathie, now thriving with her son’s kidney functioning at 90 per cent, is enjoying her renewed health. “My friends often ask me if I am faster, now that I have a runner’s kidney,” she says. “Sadly, I have not yet experienced that transformation!”
Craig’s comeback serves as inspiration for any athlete making a long return from an injury or setback. He emphasizes the need to listen to your body and not rush the process. “If something doesn’t feel right, stop and dial it back, otherwise you could delay your recovery by months,” he explains. “There is always something you can do. If you can’t run or lift weights, maybe you can walk or stretch.”
Craig adds that it’s also never too late to make a change if an injury prevents you from competing in your sport of choice. “Twenty years ago, when I was a 270-pound defensive lineman, I never imagined I’d be running 1,500m races against the fastest Masters athletes in the world.” he says.
