Faces of the Games

D.J. LAMPERT, 15

Teen Advocate

St. Louis, Missouri

DJ Lampert

While most babies were learning to stand, D.J. Lampert was getting prepped for major surgery. Shortly after his birth, D.J. was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare liver disease, which caused him, to need a liver transplant at the age of nine months. In addition to saving his life, D.J.’s liver transplant set his young life on a course of organ donation and transplant advocacy as he became determined to encourage as many people as possible to become organ donors.

For his outstanding efforts to spread this message to children, D.J. was named a "Millennium Dreamer Ambassador" in 2000. His efforts were also recognized in 2002 when he was named a Gateway Young Achiever of the Year. In 2004 he had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch as the youngest person in the world to light the flame.

 

Today D.J., now 15, enjoys playing his favorite sports, baseball and soccer, and has competed in several National Kidney Foundation Transplant Games. In 2005 D.J. was chosen to be an “Elite Athlete” representing Team USA at the World Transplant Games.

 

This June he is looking forward to being with other transplant athletes when he competes in the National Kidney Foundation 2006 Transplant Games in Louisville.