From Track to Treatment: Brandon’s Battle with AAV
Many of us consider ourselves athletes at some stage in childhood, but few carry that true dedication into adulthood. While we may stay active or discover new healthy passions, becoming a college athlete is a massive achievement that demands real commitment. For Brandon, running was that passion. He attended Winthrop University and competed as a middle-distance runner on the track team. After two successful seasons, he was gearing up for the best year of his career—until he started experiencing shortness of breath and increasing difficulty during practices. His time as a collegiate athlete began to slip away.
When the Diagnosis Changes Everything
Brandon began seeing a range of medical professionals—primary care providers, ENT specialists, and others. He went through multiple rounds of antibiotics, had nasal surgery, tried corticosteroids—but his condition only worsened. He could no longer exercise and found himself utterly drained, sleeping 12–16 hours a day. In April 2008, he was diagnosed with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels. GPA is a form of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a group of disorders where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, leading to organ damage—often affecting the kidneys, lungs, sinuses, and more.
Just like that, everything changed. Google and Wikipedia searches offered little comfort—the information was outdated and, frankly, terrifying.
Setbacks and Strength
What followed was an all-hands-on-deck effort to regain some sense of normalcy. Over the next year, Brandon was hospitalized multiple times, experienced kidney failure, and endured a long process of trial-and-error treatments. But slowly, something started to shift. Treatment began to work. Brandon was able to finish his undergraduate degree—and even got back to running.
But his battle with AAV wasn’t over. Shortly after graduating and lacing up his running shoes again, Brandon relapsed. After entering remission a second time, he went on to qualify for the Olympic Trials in 2016. Still, another relapse—and the realities of age—meant he couldn’t quite bring his dreams across the finish line. In 2018, Brandon entered remission once more—and this time, it stuck. He’s now over six years strong, his longest remission yet, having been drug-free for five of those years.
Purpose in Recovery
Aside from bi-yearly lab work, Brandon lives a relatively normal life. Healthy living and fitness have once again taken center stage, along with his work to raise awareness through partnerships with health foundations. After years of suffering in silence, he now wants others—especially athletes—to know there is a path back to an active lifestyle, even if it looks different than what they had once pictured.
He emphasizes the importance of listening to your body and having a medical team that sees the full picture—not just the lab results. For Brandon, finding care rooted in trust and individuality made all the difference.
Today, Brandon owns a coaching business he started after retiring from competitive running (High Point Athletic Club). He works long hours and rarely takes time off, but coaching has become his therapy. He still monitors potential triggers, values rest and recovery, and understands his limits. Although he's now medication-free, he knows firsthand the role that treatment and mental health support played in getting him to this point.
If you want to learn more about Brandon’s story, his book Going the Distance is available on Amazon!
About the Author:
Brandon Hudgins is a retired pro distance runner and co-founder of High Point Athletic Club (HPAC), a coaching organization based in High Point, NC. With over 10 years of experience, he trains athletes of all levels across the U.S.
Brandon holds degrees in Physical Education and Exercise Science and is the author of Going the Distance and several research publications.
Diagnosed at 21 with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), a rare form of vasculitis, he overcame major setbacks to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. His journey led to the launch of Victory Over Vasculitis, a national awareness campaign turned full-time program in 2024. Through coaching and advocacy, Brandon inspires others to keep pushing—no matter the odds.
