One of the things on my life list was to attend the Transplant Games of America. They are held every two years and although Kyle was eligible in 2010 he did not feel ready yet to go. This year though he was ready and excited to participate. Twenty-five Iowans participated in the games, twenty one recipients and 4 living donors.
I had planned months ahead that we would go to this year's games. As the time got closer we got more anxious about going. Kenton and I do not take a lot of vacations. It is hard to when you farm and you have to find someone to look after things and do the daily chores for you. We had been having a run of bad luck for a few months also. Between vehicles breaking down, the oven and microwave dying, and the week before we were robbed and all of Kenton's tools were stolen we even more anxious about going. I know we were also a little anxious about all the emotions the games would bring back up for us. Kyle has been doing so well. I hated to be reminded or think back to where we had once been. But I knew in my heart we must go and we are so glad we did. It was a life changing experience for all of us. We met amazing people and heard amazing stories. This was real competition also. These people are wonderful and talented athletes. They really inspired me to get back into shape.
Team Iowa is a great bunch of people. They welcomed Kyle and our family like we had been with them for a long time. Most of them we had only met a week before the games but we quickly became friends.
Here is Team Iowa right before the opening ceremonies. You can see Kyle forth from the left in the back row.
The opening ceremonies were held in a big arena. All of the teams paraded out, similar as what they do in the Olympics. You can see Kyle here third back on the right end.
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| Photo courtesy of Patti Demers |
I shed a few tears during the opening ceremonies but the most was when the families of donors came out. They received a standing ovation. There were many emotional times for me at the games but the biggest one that I will remember is right before the opening ceremonies our team leader (whose little boy had a heart transplant as an infant) met up with his donor's mom right before the opening ceremony. They have known each other for some time now. The donor mom lost her little baby boy when he was just an infant. She made the brave decision to donate his organs. Donor mom hugged our team leader and gave her little guy a kiss on the forehead. I heard later that she greeted him at the finish line and gave him a hug then when he completed his race. She also sang the national anthem at the opening ceremonies. What an amazing and beautiful woman.
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| Photo courtesty of Patti Demers |
Although there was lots of emotional stuff there was lots of fun and competition also. Each team had a team pin made and team members traded with other teams. Here is the collection that Kyle came home with.
We borrowed this sign from Team Philadelphia so we could get a quick picture of Kyle with it.
Kyle's first sport he participated in was Table Tennis or as we called it in my day, Ping Pong. The tables were actually left from the US Open the previous week and were used to hold the Olympic trials on. Most of the sports were held at Grand Valley State University.
Here is Kaleb cheering Kyle on in between watching Dora. At one time I had to quiet him down as he kept yelling "Go Kyle!" so much I was worried he would distract Kyle.
Kyle won the Bronze Medal in his age group for Table Tennis. Little brother was very excited and Kyle gave the medal to him to put on before he even got to put it on himself.
Kaleb really liked that medal!
Then we were on to basketball. It was three on three half court. We had enough guys playing that we had to have two teams, Iowa Team White and Iowa Team Black. Kyle was on Team Black.
Our first round gave was with Team Texas. They were BIG guys. I was a little worried about how Kyle would do. I didn't want him getting hurt. He did wonderful though and hung right in there with them.
Team Texas beat us though so we were bumped down to the recreation division. Our next game matched us up with the other Team Iowa.
Team Black lost that game also but what a great experience. Team Iowa White moved on to win the gold in the recreation devison. We we so excited for them.
Kyle had a great time and can't wait to go back in two years.
Myself, I took so much home from these games. The people we met there were amazing people. The were REAL people, both the recipients we met as well as the living donors and donor families. Many of them told us how GOD has been present in their lives through their transplant experience.
I visited with a lady from Kansas City who lost here son back in 1993. She has gone to the games for years. When one of her teams members needed a new kidney and it was looking hopeless her son stepped up to the plate and he was a match. Through his donation experience he met his wife and now has a family.
Kenton talked with a man who told him he was in Vietnam and was exposed to agent orange. Because of it he could not have children and later because of agent orange his heart failed and he needed a heart transplant. He was divorced, no children and alone and had to spend 10 months in the hospital. When Kenton told me this story my mouth dropped. How did he continue to have the will to survive for so long? Kenton said someone asked him that and he said it was because of his faith that he was able to survive.
One lady from our team had a heart transplant. She recently found out her kidneys are failing due to all of the anti-rejection medication. She will need a kidney transplant. She was still there competing and told me she actually walks 5-6 miles a day. There are no excuses for not exercising people. It is a choice we make.
I also met
Troy Lewis who has written a book about his experience with his kidney transplant and how it saved both his life and his brother's life. You can read more about his experience on his site.
And then there were the donor remembrance quilts that were displayed. When I had a few moments to myself I stopped by to look at a few of them. One block in particular caught my eye. It was in remembrance of a 13 year old boy who had been through two kidney transplants and at the age of 13 then died. It stated that he fulfilled his wish and was able to donate his heart.
What I loved most about these games is that these people are strong people. Many of them had suffered like Kyle had. They fought and survived and are living their lives to the fullest.
On our way home we stopped at Lake Michigan in South Haven. It was one of the things I wanted to see while we were out there.
We didn't stay long, but long enough for a little play time in the water with our little guy. I won't lie. It wasn't easy taking a toddler on a eleven hour drive. He is a very busy boy and we were constantly trying to keep him reigned in, but I knew we had to take him. He is our joy and celebration from all that we went through with Kyle's transplant. Our transplant experience brought us to have another child.
I couldn't imagine going to the games without him.
I know this was a long post and I am sorry for that. The Transplant Games are just something I am so passionate about now. We are planning on going again in two years. We would love to take some of you with us!
You can hear more about Team Iowa and the games on this television spot they did.
