Damue Bagwell Powers Through Pain

By Aris M Theofanopoulos
Camera Operator Damue Bagwell has seen a lot more than just the lens and viewfinder. Fighting for a career as an outfielder, turned into fighting for survival.
After being picked up by the Seattle Mariners organization right out of Moreno Valley High School, Bagwell was diagnosed with kidney disease.
"Naturally it hit me hard. I didn't believe it. I felt good, I was in shape" Bagwell described. "I didn't feel sick until I started getting migraine headaches. That's when reality hit me."
Kidney disease affects the body's ability to clean blood, and control blood pressure. Swelling in the legs, vomiting, muscle weakness, and shortness of breath are symptoms of the illness. Without treatment, the kidneys can eventually stop working, and lead to death. Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.
Bagwell attempted to continue his playing career with the Palm Springs Suns of the Western Baseball League, but ultimately the diagnosis dashed his dreams.
Rather than being put down, Bagwell searched for the best in a tough situation.
"A lot of people would have looked for pity, but I have always tried to live my life to the best of my ability," Bagwell said. "I never bring it up, I want people to know me for me."
Shortly after being diagnosed, Bagwell started attending meetings for those affected by the disease. Once there, he noticed something that he found shocking.
"As an athlete, I have always been fit, and have eaten healthy. I was surprised people didn't know how to exercise," Bagwell explained. "That's when I knew I needed to do something, create something that can help these people."
Bagwell moved to North Hollywood, and became a personal trainer. Commended for his dedication, he soon operated two gyms in the Los Angeles area. A client of his happened to work for NBC Television, and through this, a new opportunity arose.
Wanting to reach an even larger crowd, Bagwell had the idea to make an exercise workout DVD. He rented studio space, and recruited people from the meetings he attended, who were actually affected by high blood pressure and diabetes to be part of the filming.
Alive! With Damue debuted in 2013, and he still gets praise for his workout routines.
"I made this low impact aerobic regimen geared for those that never exercise. I didn't want to deal with athletes or people that regularly go to the gym. This is for people that need movement, and want to better themselves," Bagwell said.
After his second kidney transplant, Bagwell could no longer run the gyms he owned, and transitioned back into the sports world, this time on the production side.
The Moreno Valley native worked for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and the San Francisco Giants of the MLB before returning to the Inland Empire earlier this year.
Outside of the 66ers, Bagwell also works for local Television Station, KVCR, developing and filming documentary series based on stories in San Bernardino. His first documentary focused on how families grow, and come together when someone they love is diagnosed with kidney disease.
When asked what advice to give to those affected by the condition, he simply put, "When you're dealing with these things, it's not the end of the world. Study the illness, look at what you eat. Do what you can do. You got to crawl before you can walk, and you got to walk before you can run. Just relax and set goals to better yourself."
Alive! With Damue: Low Impact and Calisthenic Exercise is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, and Walmart websites.