Hayden Shock
Hayden Shock, 33, currently resides in Arlington, VA. As an Air Force brat, he was born in San Antonio, TX, and moved frequently growing up. He was born with Goldenhar Syndrome. Hayden is married to his wife, Lauren, and shares his life with a retired hearing service dog, Remy, and an active hearing service dog, Abby. He is a Federal Employee for the General Services Administration (GSA).
Hayden's father, Ed, who is from Indiana, PA has been a lifelong Steelers fan. Hayden decided to follow his dad's fandom journey around the age of six or seven. For nearly three decades, he and his father have watched the Steelers games together and bonded over countless traditions. The Steelers celebrations were a family affair -his five other siblings who were always ready and willing to play backyard football with him, while his mom taught him how to hold a football and draw plays on the palm of his hand.
Hayden went into kidney failure in his last semester at Gallaudet University - after graduating he went on dialysis for a year prior to receiving a kidney transplant from a living donor named Audrey. As a kidney transplant recipient, Hayden has become actively involved in the Transplant Games of America by not only competing in the games but organizing fundraisers as well. He also represented the USA as a goalkeeper in the Transplant Soccer World Cup in 2024.
Because of Hayden's own struggles after his kidney transplant, Hayden recognized a need to help other organ recipients with their health journeys. Hayden started taking courses in his own to become a certified nutrition coach and runs his side business, Shock Nutrition. Through this, he helps transplant recipients improve their lifestyle through nutrition and fitness. Hayden is passionate about spreading awareness of the importance of organ donation and uses every platform available to him to get the word out to as many potential donors as possible.
He lives by the inspiring quote of his late friend, Taylor Haugen: ""Don't quit, never give up.""