Abbey Beckman

• Director of the Coaching Program
• Kidney Transplant Recipient

Abbey Beckman brings a decade of experience in program management, process improvement, and data analytics to her role as Director of the Coaching Program. She is also a kidney transplant recipient whose journey has shaped her resilience, perspective, and commitment to supporting others.

Abbey learned something was wrong with her kidneys at age 24, when routine lab work revealed protein in her urine and elevated creatinine levels. After delaying follow-up for several years, she finally met with a nephrologist and was diagnosed with glomerulonephritis. The cause was unclear, though she and her care team suspect it began after a severe allergic reaction during her senior year of college. Within a year of diagnosis, she was facing dialysis and the transplant wait list.

Abbey was fortunate to avoid dialysis thanks to strong support from her family. Several relatives stepped forward to be tested as potential donors, and her aunt was the best match. In August 2016, they underwent a successful living donor transplant at the University of Michigan. Abbey also received a call for a deceased donor kidney around the same time, but ultimately chose to proceed with the living donor transplant and allow the deceased donor organ to go to someone else.

Her early post-transplant years were challenging—she experienced four rejection episodes before her care team found the right treatment plan in 2020. Since then, her kidney health has been stable, and she works hard to care for what she lovingly refers to as her “precious third kidney.”

Even during kidney failure, Abbey stayed active through CrossFit, but in 2021 she returned to her lifelong sport: swimming. A former All-American swimmer at Wayne State University, she quickly found success on the international transplant stage. At her first World Transplant Games in 2023, she earned five gold medals, one silver, and set five world records. She followed that with a win at the Donor Games 1-Mile Swim 2024 Open and a top-two age-group finish at the US Masters National Swim Meet. At the 2025 World Transplant Games in Germany, she won five gold medals and two silver medals, and set four new world records.

Abbey’s professional experience and personal journey make her a natural fit for the microsite coaching program. She is passionate about helping donors, recipients, and their supporters navigate the transplant experience.

Abbey lives in Indianapolis with her husband and their two Australian Shepherds. She works in project management at an engineering firm. When she’s not on the pool deck or managing projects, she’s likely hiking, traveling, or planning her next adventure.