Other Resources
Local Stories - Team Kentucky
WEI-BIN ZENG, 51
Louisville , Kentucky
Wei-Bin Zeng was the “healthy” one in the family. Energetic and active, he played sports almost every day. Always involved in the community, Zeng started Crane House, a non-profit Asian cultural resource center in Louisville and Sister Cities of Louisville, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to global friendship, multicultural understanding, and economic growth a promoting the city of Louisville. Because of his active schedule and lifestyle, Zeng never thought he could get sick, but in the spring of 2003, his doctor called him after a routine checkup, and told him that had liver cancer and needed a liver transplant.
“I couldn’t believe that I was sick,” Wei-Bin said. “I was healthy, active and took care of myself, so how could this happen to me?”
A few weeks after being placed on the transplant list, he received a liver. Wei-Bin has joined Team Kentucky and is dedicated to raising awareness about the U.S. Transplant Games. He decided to write about his personal story and his determination to participate in the Games, and contacted his family and friends in the local Chinese community to ask them for help. Within 24 hours, he raised over $1,000, which enabled him to join Team Kentucky, and participate in the Games.
“I was completely awed and humbled by the overwhelming response I received within a 24-hour time frame,” Zeng said. “I never realized that people were so concerned about me and my health and wanted to help me as much as possible.”
This week, Zeng looks is participating in his first U.S. Transplant Games at the table tennis event. “I once went to an appointment too early, and while I was waiting, I saw a quilt and one square read, each day is a gift from God. Make it blossom and grow,” Zeng said. “I knew then that I was going to value every second of my new live, and that I would try to give back to my community for the support they showed me by helping me join the Kentucky Team.”
