Ken Gauvey and Michael Hughes on Being Clubmates Who Each Donated Their Kidney

<p><strong>Season 2, Episode 16</strong><br /><strong>Guests:</strong> <strong>Ken Gauvey</strong> — Attorney; Vet épée fencer (DC Fencers Club)<br /><strong>Michael Hughes</strong> — Lifelong fencer, teacher & coach; Vet épée fencer (DC Fencers Club)</p><p><strong>What we cover</strong></p><p>Origin stories: late start (Ken) vs. 50 years in the sport (Michael) — and discovering the Vet community</p><p>Why donate? Ken’s family emergency; Michael’s NPR drive-time moment and the “why not me?” mindset</p><p>Expectation vs. reality: testing, surgery, different recovery timelines — and the role of baseline fitness</p><p>Returning to fencing: “listen to your body,” track metrics, celebrate small wins, and rebuild with intention</p><p>Mindfulness & reset: pre-bout rituals, visualization, practicing resets at practice, staying present</p><p>DCFC culture: coaches who coach the whole person, morning vet sessions, multigenerational mentorship</p><p>Living donation 101: anonymity choices, chains t...