Note from Stacey

Transplant Games, Part 2 (cont’d.) The next day, we arose a 6 a.m., eager to participate in the 5K Race for Organ Donation and Awareness. Despite our high hopes, our large group arrived so late that we missed the start of the race…and wandered through the streets of Louisville, banner and all, looking for a crowd of participants going in one direction. We began to see thin, athletic, sweaty characters run by us in the opposite direction. Gradually, the crowd got thicker as the pace slowed down…we were among the walkers then. So we hopped into the crowd, turned around, and proudly marched (well, Mia rolled in the stroller, since she is only 1 and 1/2) the last mile of the race! Later that day, half of us attended the opening ceremonies. I marched in with my team, and the family sat in the audience of thousands. There were beautiful speeches, songs, and tributes to living donors and donor families. I began to feel the true meaning of what the Games is about…community, promoting organ donation, and honoring the donor families, in addition to the sports. The next day we left the campground early to watch and support my friends Ana, Paul and Isa (pictured)as they competed in the swimming events. Ana, Isa, Tracy and earned the gold medal in the 4X50 medley, Isa won a silver in the breast stroke, and Ana won a gold in the individual medly. But at the Transplant Games, it is even more intriguing to watch the losers, the athletes struggling to do their best, courageously and slowly working their way across the pool. One blind woman got huge cheers of applause as she finished way behind the pack., – Stacey, from Belmont