Tifiro Cook
Founder & CEO of Kidney Care Coaches
International Sports Science Association (ISSA) Certified, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Youth Trainer, YMCA Certified
Tifiro Cook has over 30 years of first-hand experience and specialized knowledge. He served as keynote speaker for the National Kidney Foundation Symposiums for over 5 years and received numerous accolades and awards from various organizations. Collaborations include: The National Kidney Foundation, The Ohio State University, featured in the National Geographic ‘Inside Emergency Transplant’ documentary, Johns Hopkins University Hospital, notable works as coaching the legendary Houston rap artist ‘Scarface’ (Geto Boys), while awaiting his kidney transplant. In addition, he also directly worked with pediatric kidney transplant patients for over 14 years as the President of Outreach for the YNOTT Foundation (Youth Needing Organ and Tissue Transplant).
Tifiro and his dad after a college football game.
He participated in the 2014 & 2016 Transplant Games of America and held the position of Minority Liaison for Team Ohio. He is the featured host of Second Chance Podcast. Coach Tifiro Cook organized and hosted the Inaugural 2021 Kidney Disease and Dialysis Symposium. He is the featured weekly guest on Mr. Kidneys YouTube channel and has maintained a strong presence in encouraging patient advocacy in the renal world. His most recent achievement includes authoring the book ’The 10 Dialysis Commandments’. As a two time kidney transplant survivor he developed a passion for helping patients with stage 3-5 kidney disease not only survive but thrive. His goal is to walk with you on your journey and give you the tools you need to regain control of your health and well being. Tifiro loves to see people get better. He has a deep passion for it.
Tifiro has maintained a healthy, fit lifestyle despite being on dialysis.
As an 18 year – old freshman college football player Tifiro was living his dream when in a split second his life changed forever. A fitness enthusiast, when Tifiro experienced heart-pounding pain during a practice session, he knew something was terribly wrong. Two days later and 22 pounds heavier, Tifiro was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease.
Returning to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio—far from the sunny football practice fields he so enjoyed in California— Tifiro underwent treatment and a kidney transplant. Four years later, his body rejected his sister’s donated kidney and Tifiro entered the world of peritoneal dialysis. Not letting his condition weather his spirits, he continued to perform self-administered peritoneal dialysis 5 times per day for 6 1/2 years, and hemodialysis 3 times per week for 5 years. For some, this grueling schedule would thwart any sense of normalcy, but not for Tifiro.
An avid bodybuilder and personal trainer, Tifiro balanced the need to keep his body healthy through good nutrition and dialysis, with his desire to keep his mind healthy as well through his commitment to fitness and training his clients. Starting his days at 4:am, Tifiro spent 12 hours in the gym each day, returning home every 4 hours to perform the peritoneal dialysis exchange he needed to survive.
Tifiro was awarded the 2019 Medical Advisory Board Distinguished Service Honoree at the National Kidney Foundation
Still living with his “glass half full,” Tifiro was approached by a good friend adamant to donate her kidney for a second transplant. Discovering she was not a match, Jacqueline researched and discover a groundbreaking paired donation program at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Linking incompatible donor/recipient pairs with an alternate compatible pair, this program played a pivotal role in creating the life Tifiro leads today, and can be watched here in the full when Tifiro was featured in a National Geographic documentary Inside Emergency Transplant. Undergoing a successful second transplant in 2007—after 60+ days in the hospital undergoing plasmapheresis to drastically reduce the levels of antibodies in his system—Tifiro emerged stronger than ever.
An inspiration to all who know him, he has shared his optimism and motivation with people around the nation. Tifiro’s message has reached many, and he continues to shares moments, his journey, and living his best life.
Watch
The National Geographic Documentary featuring Coach Cook
on his journey to getting a 6-way kidney swap.
One moment…
As an 18-year-old freshman college football player Tifiro was living his dream, when in a split second his life changed forever. A fitness enthusiast, when Tifiro experienced heart-pounding pain during a practice session, he knew something was terribly wrong. Two days and 22 pounds heavier, Tifiro was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease.
One Journey…
Returning to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio—far from the sunny football practice fields he so enjoyed in California—Tifiro underwent treatment and a kidney transplant. Four years later, his body rejected his sister’s donated kidney and Tifiro entered the world of peritoneal dialysis. Not letting his condition weather his spirits, he continued to perform self-administered peritoneal dialysis 5 times per day for 6 years, and hemorrhages dialysis 3 times per week for 5 years. For some, this grueling schedule would thwart any sense of normalcy, but not for Tifiro.
An avid bodybuilder and personal trainer, Tifiro balanced the need to keep his body health through good nutrition and dialysis, with his desire to keep his mind healthy as well through his commitment to fitness and training his clients. Starting his days at 4 a.m., Tifiro spent 12 hours in the gym each day, returning home every 4 hours to perform the peritoneal dialysis exchange he needed to survive.
Still living with his “glass half full,” Tifiro was approached by a good friend adamant to donate her kidney for a second transplant. Discovering she was not a match, Jacqueline researched and discovered a groundbreaking paired donation program at John Hopkins Hospital. Linking incompatible donor/recipient pairs with an alternate compatible pair, this program played a pivotal role in creating the life Tifiro leads today. Undergoing a successful second transplant in 2007—after 60+ days in the hospital undergoing plasmapheresis to drastically reduce the levels of antibodies in his system—Tifiro emerged stronger than ever.
One life…
An inspiration to all who know him, he has shared his optimism and motivation with people around the nation. Featured in a National Geographic documentary, Tifiro’s message has reached many, and he continues to share his moment, his journey, and his life with diverse audiences.
Fitness Consulting & Personal Training
As a Certified Personal Trainer for 15+ years, and the former owner of his own personal training studio, Tifiro has had the opportunity to train high school and college athletes as well as male and female bodybuilders. He currently is preparing competitors for the upcoming figure competition season include Central Ohio’s own Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic. In addition, through experience as a former fitness director for the YMCA, Tifiro has worked with an Active Older Adults Program to teach seniors safe and effective strength training techniques.
Tifiro specializes in strength training, conditioning, and weight loss management for diverse youth and adult clients. He offers his services through Next Level Fitness in Columbus, Ohio.
Regardless of the background of the individual, Tifiro possesses the unique ability to connect with his clients, identify current challenges and long-term goals, and develop the health and fitness programs to get clients where they want to be to live their healthiest life.
Patient Advocacy
Who is Tifiro?
Staying healthy while enduring more than 30 surgeries—including 2 kidney transplants—during 10 years of dialysis treatments, Tifiro knows, first-hand, the struggles you have to overcome when embarking on such a complex medical journey. With the remarkable ability to stay healthy in mind, body, and spirit during his own journey, he has been called on to speak to audiences at hospitals around the country, encouraging young patients to stay positive and to not give up on the fight for their life.
What inspires Tifiro to advocate for others?
A patient for more than half of his life, Tifiro understands, all too well, what it is like to fight for your life while everyone around you seems to be taking theirs for granted. Looking at himself in the mirror during his most fragile days, Tifiro decided not to accept what was happening to him, not to travel the journey he knew others in his situation had walked, and to take matters into his own hands to create his best life. To do this, Tifiro armed himself with the knowledge to help him stay healthy, leaning on his lifelong passion for health and fitness to pull him through his darkest days. Now, having emerged as a true survivor, he has made a commitment to helping others “beat the odds,” But Tifiro doesn’t just help patients beat the odds; he helps them soar in mind, body, and spirit.
