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A Spectator’s View of the 2004 U.S. Transplant Games

Jim Potoski

"What do you have, and how long have you had it?"

That was the MOST common question exchanged between athletes, friends and donor families during five days of friendly and feverish competition at 2004 U.S. Transplant Games in Minneapolis, MN.

"What do you have?" obviously refers to which ORGAN each athlete had transplanted. “How long have you had it?" refers to the length of time since the transplant took place, allowing these amazing athletes to train, assemble and compete. We're talking hearts, kidneys, livers, lungs, pancreases and bone marrow.

If asked, every athlete would call it a GIFT to be at the Games and celebrating life. In fact, I saw several athletes wearing this T-shirt inscription: “LIFE is good.”

As a Games spectator, supporting both my sister Jane Barrett from Team Pittsburgh and Team MO-KAN, from where I reside, I found the spirit of competition inspiring in many ways. It was three days of fast-paced competition and fellowship in top-notch venues.

My sister Jane had a kidney transplant close to 15 years ago. This was her sixth U.S. Transplant Games; her sports are tennis and table tennis. In Minneapolis, she won a gold medal in women's singles tennis (she won't let me tell her age bracket), a silver medal in mixed doubles tennis and a bronze medal in table tennis.

Several experiences stuck out in my mind as the Games unfolded:

* At the Opening Ceremonies, inside the fabled HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis, a transplant specialist spoke and said that it was "highly recommended for all our athletes to be on drugs!" That brought a roar of laughter from the crowd.

* The woman who beat my sister in table tennis, Jackie from Rhode Island, had a twin sister. The twin had given Jackie her kidney 28 years ago. When that was announced on the podium as Jackie received her gold medal, the two sisters hugged. Jackie, in turn, took off her medal and presented it to her donor. There wasn't a dry eye in the building.

* The gutsiest athlete I came across was Lorraine from Medford, Oregon. She’s 70 years old—her kidney is 34. She had to play DOWN in tennis because there weren’t any competitors in her bracket. Husband George told me that she participated on her college’s men’s team because the school didn't have a women's team. With her oversized racket and undersized legs, Lorraine whacked an assortment of precision shots. It was a pleasure to watch this craftswoman at work. She won a bronze medal.

These are just a few examples of what the U.S. Transplant Games are all about!