Enumclaw High School Water Polo Coach Bob Averill received a kidney transplant on Friday, August 8, from his sister, Sue Averill, at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, WA. Coach Bob was released from the hospital on Tuesday, and is at home recovering, with very little discomfort, and a VERY healthy kidney. Bob expects to be on deck during the first week of fall practice, with help from assistant coaches. Sister Sue, from San Diego, CA, is doing well, and recovering at brother Charlie's house on Bainbridge Island. Coach Bob suffers from End Stage Renal Disease, and had been on dialysis since
July, 2010.
There are currently 100,602 people waiting for kidney
transplants in the U.S. Last year 14,029 kidney transplants took place in the
U.S.; 3,381 patients died while waiting for a transplant. On average, nearly 2,500 new patients
are added to the kidney waiting list each month, and 420 people die each month waiting
for a kidney transplant.
Virginia Mason is ranked as one of the best hospitals in
Washington state for the fifth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report,
and is the only hospital in Washington named One of America's 100 Best
Hospitals for 2014.
Since their first kidney transplant in 1972, Virginia Mason has
performed more than 2,000 kidney transplants and now perform an average of 90
to 100 transplants per year.
Averill has been co-head coach, with Ken DeMan, of the EHS
Girls Water Polo Team since 2005, and has coached the boys program since
2009.
"Thanks to all for the support and encouragement during this experience. I've received tremendous support from friends, family, colleagues, and the water polo community. I'm looking forward to being a part of a fun fall season," said Averill
