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Why We Support AKF
Pastors Michael McCurry and Dr. Tammie McCurry have a special connection to the Alabama Kidney Foundation and are excited to serve as the 2026 Patient Chairs for the Montgomery Kidney Walk! Check out their story below:
What Michael thought was a “bad headache” turned out to be a medical battle that lasted more than two decades. After suffering a double brain aneurysm in 2000, Michael was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). His mother had also suffered from the disease and unfortunately passed while Michael was a teenager, but Michael was determined to fight.
With his wife and six daughters by his side, Michael had to relearn his “new normal” with PKD. This included relearning how to walk, talk, and complete basic life tasks after the brain aneurysms while navigating the intricates of PKD – daily medications, constant pain, fatigue, and other health problems.
In 2016, Michael’s health began to deteriorate quickly to the point where his doctors recommended that he go on dialysis and get on the kidney transplant list. With the help of the Alabama Kidney Foundation, Michael was able to undergo nightly peritoneal dialysis at home.
Although the dialysis was helping to prolong the deterioration, Michael was in desperate need of a new kidney. Through faith, prayer, and support from his family and the Alabama Kidney Foundation, Michael found a donor match within his church. Though the donor was unrelated to Michael and a stranger to the family, she was a perfect match on every scale and had been preparing to be an organ donor for many years.
Michael received his kidney transplant on March 8, 2017, and is now free of PKD. His success story was made possible by the love of God, his family, his support system, his donor, and the miraculous work of the Alabama Kidney Foundation.
Now, nine years post-transplant, Michael feels better than ever and is able to enjoy retirement after working for the federal government for more than 20 years. He serves as a Senior Pastor at Unity Worship Center and the Founder and CEO of Beta Alpha Gamma Christian Fraternity. Although his journey still includes taking daily medications and routine doctor’s visits, he has more energy now to be present with his family and to interact with his 12 grandchildren. Michael’s story is a testament to the power of prayer and a strong support system in any medical battle. You can read Michael’s full testimony and story in his family book: Under the Shadow: Our Journey with Polycystic Kidney Disease.
He is honored to be the 2026 Patient Chair for the Alabama Kidney Foundation Walk to support the organization that has given so much to him and his family.
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