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"I just chase life everyday;" -Bobby McMullen
"If you fall down 7 times, get up 8;" -Bobby McMullen
"My life is incredibly surreal," -Bobby McMullen
"Physical activity is the elixir of the gods;" -Bobby McMullen -
Bobby was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He was 12 years old.
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Bobby started skiing right after he went blind. He skiied with his friend, Chris Waddel. "I crashed a lot, but in a short amount of time I started learning how to follow the guide. He wore bright colors so I followed his shape and he'd give me verbal commands;" -Bobby McMullen
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17 years later, at age 29, Bobby is diagnosed with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. He is told he will go blind in a month, and in fact he does- while mountain-biking with a buddy.
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Bobby makes it to the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. He has been skiing for about 2 years now, and is only 31. www.wtb.com. "If you fall down 7 times, get up 8," -Bobby McMullen
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Bobby McMullen sure had the best New Year's ever: he received the news that he had a donor for his double-transplant of a pancreas and kidney! Finally, Bobby would no longer have diabetes, or need dialysis! By February of 1997, Bobby started seeing good lab results.
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Bobby put his name on the list for a double-transplant of a pancreas and kidney. He had also just gotten his dialysis routine down.
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In the autumn of 1996, Bobby was diagnosed with kidney failure. Unfortunately, at the time, Bobby was competing in the World Championship Games, but he needs dialysis immediately. www.rideblindracing.com
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As Bobby continued to get healthy again, he also gradually resumed skiing. But, his health would soon take yet another downward spiral, as he experienced acute renal rejection.
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Bobby got back on dialysis for his 2nd and hopefully last time. He was back to being a diabetic.
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During his stay in the hospital, Bobby met a very spacial DaVita nurse named Therese. They soon fell in love, although Bobby was barely 150 pounds, he had lost 40-45 pounds during his stay at the hospital.
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In the hospital, Bobby waited and waited. He finally received the news he and Therese had been waiting for: he was about to get his 2nd double-transplant and would never need dialysis again!
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After Bobby had gotten his successful double-transplant surgery, he decided to retire from skiing. But, Bobby wasn't finished; far from it. He was just changing to a new sport.
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The sport that Bobby changed to was mountain-biking. He had tried mountain-biking a few times, but soon he realized it was his favorite sport. During just his first season, Bobby particicpated in 23 races, including 2 12-hour races!
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Now that Bobby is 42, he says that life has exceeded his expectaions. "My life is incredibly surreal. It really is. It is just the most amazing of lives," -Bobby McMullen
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In the summer of 2008, Bobby decided to compete in the Downieville Downhill. Now this was a tough decision with Bobby being blind and all, but with the support of many, Bobby crossed the finish line before 8 people! www.downievilleclassic.com
