By Paul Anthony Arco
Special to the Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — It was 15 years ago that Brad Benjamin thrilled local fans with feats on the golf course that may never be duplicated.
Now Benjamin, who is recognized as one of the greatest golfers in the city’s history, faces a personal health crisis: His kidneys are failing and he needs a transplant.
In 2009, Benjamin began his ascent to golf prominence. At 22, the Guilford High School graduate won the U.S. Amateur Public Links tournament to become the only Rockford native to ever qualify for The Masters. That same summer, he won his only Rockford Men’s City championship, and he became the only Rockford golfer to ever win the Illinois Open.
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Benjamin missed the cut at The Masters by three strokes. He then qualified for 2011 U.S. Open, becoming the only Rockford native to make the 36-hole cut. Benjamin turned pro in 2011 and played in several events on the Canadian Tour before injuries derailed his career.
Benjamin has found himself in some tough spots during his career as both an amateur and professional. Trying to make the cut at a golf major, though, is nothing compared to what he is now facing.
In November 2022, Benjamin was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy or Berger’s Disease. IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease that causes the kidneys to become inflamed. As many as 50% of all cases progressed to end stage renal disease or kidney failure, according to the IgA Nephropathy Support Network. IgA nephropathy is the third leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the United States, trailing only diabetes and high blood pressure.
Symptoms for IgA nephropathy don’t typically start at the early stages of the disease. It’s a progressive condition that can take years to produce warning signs including changes in urine, fatigue, high blood pressure and swelling of the hands and feet. Anyone at any age can get IgA nephropathy although it’s more common in men. Benjamin says it’s likely he was born with the disease.
And now Benjamin, 37, needs a kidney transplant.
His problems started in November 2022. Benjamin, who now lives in Bluffton, South Carolina, began feeling sick around Thanksgiving. As he and his wife, Rikki, and their two young children, Palmer, 6, and Lincoln, 3, made their way to Illinois to celebrate the holiday with family, he noticed a small spot in his vision. He visited an optometrist in Milton, Wisconsin, who noticed bruising in the back of his eye caused by high blood pressure.
He was referred to a nearby emergency department where more tests were performed that revealed kidney failure.
It was a shock to Benjamin who had never been sick in his life.
“Looking back, I remember feeling different in my late 20s,” he said. “My recovery from workouts was slower. I chalked it up to getting older, but maybe my body was on a slow decline.”
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Benjamin was admitted to a Madison, Wisconsin, hospital where he underwent more testing and treatment for 11 days. Tests revealed that Benjamin’s residual kidney function was about 10%. Without proper kidney function your body cannot clean its own blood, which can ultimately lead to a stroke, heart attack or death.
Benjamin underwent surgery to have a catheter installed into his chest that prepared Benjamin for dialysis. Dialysis is the process in which your blood leaves your body, is cleaned by a machine, and then returned to your body. “I didn’t know what dialysis was,” he said. “I thought I was a goner.”
A kidney biopsy finally gave Benjamin and his doctors the answers they were seeking. For Benjamin, his diagnosis of IgA nephropathy was irreversible by the time it was discovered.
Benjamin returned home to South Carolina, where, for the next five months, three days a week, and four hours a visit, he sat in a chair at a dialysis center watching his blood spin in a dialysis machine. He says he lost 20 pounds, but generally felt fine. He’d then drive home and crash on the couch for four or five hours. “It was a weird experience,” he said.
In May 2023, after undergoing five different surgeries, he began peritoneal dialysis through a machine from his house. The dialysis takes about 16 hours a day, forcing Benjamin to stay close to home most days. The side effects have been more manageable, he says. Benjamin works from home where he runs an online golf resale business.
Benjamin went public with his health condition this week when he posted an update on his Facebook page. He says he’s looking for a donor after testing revealed his brother Brent would not be able to donate. “I was prepared that it might not work out,” he said. “Hopefully someone else can come forward.”
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Kidney disease is the latest in a string of tough breaks for one of the best golfers to come from Rockford. First, he injured his back that took a two-year recovery. Then he had elbow surgery, and then he was diagnosed with kidney disease. He also recently tackled skin cancer that was discovered during one of his surgeries.
“The last six years have been a train wreck,” he said. “We were putting some of my trophies on a shelf recently and my daughter started asking me questions. She doesn’t even realize I play golf. That’s been tough.”
These days, instead of thinking about booming drives, long putts and victory walks down the 18th fairway, Benjamin dreams of returning to a normal life, where he can enjoy his family without worrying about what’s lurking around the corner.
“I think my past has prepared me for what I’m going through now,” he said. “Golf taught me how to fail. You rarely succeed in golf. I’m doing all I can and that’s all I can do. I take it one day at a time. I’ve learned to be an extremely patient person. This isn’t going to happen tomorrow. Golf has prepared me mentally for this.”
It’s been three years since Benjamin played competitive golf.
“I sometimes lose sleep thinking about what could have been. I think about all the positives and the successes that I’ve had. But my body has held me back and time is something you don’t get back. And with this diagnosis my body may never get back,” he said. “But I’m not worried about playing professionally again. I just want to get healthy and enjoy life again.”
How to help | Brad Benjamin
The first step is getting that kidney transplant. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in becoming a living donor for Benjamin, follow THIS LINK for more information.
You can also call the Medical University of South Carolina Living Donor Program at 843-792-5097.
Facts about being a living donor
It is important to know that as a living donor:
- You DO NOT have to be a perfect match to Benjamin
- A simple blood test can determine if you are a potential match
- You only need one healthy kidney to live a full life
- Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions
- The recovery period is usually quick, generally about two weeks
- The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by Benjamin’s insurance
- You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the process and look out for your best interests.
This article is by freelance journalist Paul Anthony Arco. Email feedback to news@rockrivercurrent.com.