LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Kenneth Walker has spent nearly two decades managing lupus, a diagnosis that came when he was just 25 years old. Now, the Estacado High School band director is facing another major health challenge with the same resilience he teaches his students.
Walker’s doctor recently delivered difficult news about his transplanted kidney.
“I ask my doctor and the tough thing to hear, I’m basically going to lose this kidney right and he said yes,” Walker said.
Walker received his first kidney transplant in 2019 from a living donor after spending five years on the transplant waiting list. The transplant gave him what he called “complete freedom” from the constraints of his illness.
“Finally got a transplant and everything after that like I said it was complete freedom when I got the transplant,” Walker said. “Here it was tough to hear but like I said in my mind I’ve done this before.”
Now, six years later, his body is rejecting that kidney and he must prepare to start dialysis again while waiting for another donor.
Despite his health challenges, Walker continues leading the band program at the same school where he once marched as a student. This year, he guided his students to their first Division One rating in nearly 50 years.
For Walker, the achievement represents something deeper than competition success.
“Trophies collect dust you know it’s the memories,” Walker said. “What’s important is what can I teach you even though it’s band, it’s a lot more than that I think life but band is the vehicle I use to teach it.”
Walker uses his own experiences to teach his students about perseverance. His three children and his students all know about his health struggles, which he views as an opportunity to model resilience.
“I have three kids and my oldest seen me going through it before but it’s important to show your kids I’m not going to just give up especially your students,” he said. “They know what’s going on, I tell them life is going to hit you hard and you can’t just give up.”
His family has established a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses as he awaits another transplant opportunity.
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