Maryland Brings Back Six Gold Medals!
Although the U.S Transplant Games highlight the athletic ability of organ and bone marrow recipients, they also champion a far greater achievement—the success organ and tissue transplantation brings to the lives of those in need. With the number on the national organ waiting list equaling over 92,000, increase in national consciousness to this health issue is essential.
The 2006 Games were held in Louisville, Kentucky in mid July with a little over 7,000 recipient atheletes participating. Teams from around the nation competed in traditional Olympic Games such as 5k race, cycling and swimming. Competition abounds among all age groups. The youngest member of Team Maryland was Emily Biondi, a kidney recipient, age 22. Emily competed in two events winning a gold medal in the Long Jump and silver in the 5k race. Bruce Brooks is the oldest member of Team Maryland and participated in the bowling event and also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Transplant Resource Center of Maryland.
Team Maryland had several successes at this year’s event. The team brought home a total of sixteen medals: six gold, seven silver and three bronze. Team Maryland participated in eight events that include bowling, the 5k race, tennis, racquetball, table tennis, swimming, golf, badminton and track and field.
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For first time, participant Doug White of Colora, Maryland, and other participants like him, it was a celebration of life; a celebration of a second chance. Doug is a living donor liver recipient. His transplant was performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2000 and his donor was his brother, Barry. Since his transplant, Doug remains active in sports such as softball, volleyball and soccer. He shares his love of life with his two children; Dougy, 16 and Callie, 12. He and team partner Don Sweeney earned a gold medal in racquetball. "I really didn’t know a lot about racquetball…and was a bit nervous about playing Pittsburgh, who had never lost, but we had a very good partnership and somehow we beat them," says Doug. He also participated in the tennis segment of the games with partner Kathleen Siciliano and advanced to the semi finals. Earning gold at this year’s Games isn’t Doug’s only triumph, he is also a colon cancer survivor. Doug, 43, also adds "I feel great, I feel like I am twenty five again, I feel healthy; this is a miracle of my sporting career." The most memorable part of the U.S Transplant Games for Doug was the chance to unite with other recipients who have the same appreciation for a second chance and he looks forward to participating in the 2008 Games.
The first Transplant Games took place in 1982 and began as a regional event with only a small group of athletes. In 1990, the National Kidney foundation began managing the Games and it has since spread to a nationwide event. The U.S. Transplant Games is a four day athletic competition. Participants of the games are solid organ recipients as well as bone marrow recipients. Activities at the Games aren’t just limited to recipients, donor family members are also encouraged to participate in Giving, Grieving, Growing workshops. These workshops offer grief sessions and art therapy sessions. In addition, families can partake in a Donor Recognition Ceremony to honor loved ones.
U.S. Transplant games are held biannually. The next games will take place the year 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To become a sponsor, to participate in the transplant games, or to receive more information, please contact the Team Maryland Manager; Latrice Price at 410-242-7000 or visit the web at www.mdtransplant.org.
-Patricia T. VanDeRyt, Director, Communications, The Transplant Resource Center of Maryland
