The Living ProofCanadian TransplanT assoCiaTion issue #39 auTumn 2012

6th Canadian Transplant GamesCalgary, Alberta July 16-22, 2012

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President’s CornerDavid Smith, Kidney Recipient, Edmonton, AB

Hello Everyone,

School is now in session again, summer holidays are over for most, and a busy year of preparing for the 6th Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary has now gone by. As I type this, only hours before leaving Kathmandu, Nepal for the trek to the 8th highest mountain in the world, I take this moment to look back at the fantastic achievement of the Calgary organizing committee putting on amazing Games. My hat goes off to everyone of you who worked through the long hours of meetings, fundraising efforts, games planning all while most of you were holding down a day job. Congratulations on a job well done! The guests were overwhelmed by the accommodations, the always friendly volunteers and the western hospitality offered by the City of Calgary.

As the Canadian Transplant Association celebrates its 25th Anniversary in Toronto and Calgary in October, I will unfortunately miss the events as I will still be in Nepal climbing Mount Manaslu. Facebook users can follow us at Les AltiMaitres, where we will post updates when we can along the way. Our goal is to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation around the world and, locally, as Philippe Blanchette, Martin Boiteau and myself work to increase awareness of the Quebec Transplant House, the Severe Burn Unit in Montreal and the Transplant Companions Program which is available to help pre- and post-transplant recipients deal with their needs or concerns while they travel on their journey through transplantation.

The Canadian Transplant Association has been a big part of my life over the past 12 years and it goes without saying that I will always be promoting it – even as life moves forward and I step down from the busy role of President to pursue other dreams and adventures. It has given me the opportunity to meet and work with many amazing people, with fantastic stories of survival, and post transplant achievements. I have been around long enough to see many young recipient athletes grow up to become great leaders in their communities, and adults who have worked within their provinces to make organ and tissue donation front page news. Unfortunately, I have seen some good friends pass on as well, some way sooner than we would have liked, and others who enjoyed a full life living into their 80’s +. In either result, life was extended for the individuals a little longer, allowing them to spread their joy within our lives. I am grateful to have met so many of you along the way.

While I am away, Eastern Vice-President Aubrey Goldstein will be stepping into the role of Acting President, with the intention of continuing in the role after my term officially ends December 31st, 2012.

As morning draws near and the bus is prepared to take us into the trekking region, which leads us to our next adventure, I want to wish you all the best health and well being for the remainder of fall, and upcoming winter season. See you in November.

Cheers,

Dave Smith President, Canadian Transplant Association

boarD of DirectorsPresident – David Smith davidsmith@txworks.ca

Vice-President (West) – Jennifer Holman jenniferholman@txworks.ca

Vice-President (East) – Aubrey Goldstein vanngold@rogers.com

Treasurer – Janice Locke jlocke01@live.com

Secretary – Kathy Tachynski kathytach@hotmail.com

Membership Director – Neil Folkins neilfolkins@txworks.ca

Team Manager – Tara Brady cdnteammanager@gmail.com

regional DirectorsBritish Columbia – Margaret Benson winniethepooh@telus.net

Alberta – Jennifer Holman jenniferholman@txworks.ca

Saskatchewan – Orest Saskiw orestsaskatoon@sasktel.net

Ontario – Sandra Holdsworth ctaontario@bell.net

Quebec – Gaston Martin martingaston@videotron.ca

New Brunswick – Mark Black markblack78@hotmail.com

Nova Scotia –

Inside This Issue...President’s Corner ....................................................................................3

Life After a Double Lung Transplant ......................................................4

More Than ‘Just’ Sports ...........................................................................5

Mother and Daughter Enjoy Life After Heart Transplants .....................6

My Favorite Number (Alexandria’s Story) ...............................................7

Medical Student Cycles Across Canada ...................................................8

Mermaid Celebrates the Gift of Life .......................................................9

Sharing the Joy .......................................................................................10

Personal Bests and Important Messages ................................................10

A Fan’s Story ..........................................................................................11

7th Annual Tennis Tournament a Huge Success ...................................12

A Dream Come True .............................................................................13

Wheelbarrow for Organ and Tissue Donation/ Concours de brouette pour le don d’organes et de tissus ........................14

Publication Mail Agreement Number: 40033698

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Life After a Double Lung TransplantBy Carol Dubeau

Often I see friends or family that I haven’t seen in a long while and it is amazing to me the expression of surprise that I see on their faces because of my transformation over the last 38 months. With the oxygen now flowing properly through my “new” lungs, my skin looks normal, my energy level is so much better and I am entering activities I didn’t even allow myself to dream of when I was ill. One of my favorite activities is the Canadian Transplant Games, sponsored and run by volunteers from the Canadian Transplant Association. To be an athlete in these Games, a person must be a transplant recipient. Needless to say I qualify.

The first Transplant Games I attended were in 2010 only 14 months after my lung transplant. I entered the 3 KM Race Walk and completed it in 48.52 minutes. I was thrilled when I learned that my pace would be considered a “normal” walk. My second Transplant Games were in Calgary this past July and I was out to challenge myself!

First, I wanted to shave 5 minutes off of my Race Walk time. I crossed the finish line in 40.0 minutes – almost 9 minutes off of my previous best! I was ecstatic!!!

Second, I wanted to enter five events, the maximum allowed. So I added the 5 KM cycle race, lawn bowl, shot put and the 100 M dash. I thought I would just do what I could and have fun participating.

The 5 KM cycling was the most challenging as it was my first event and my lungs had not acclimatized to the altitude. It took me a long time to complete the race but I did and even won a gold medal. Lawn bowling was great fun and I made a new friend from Alberta, a woman who had donated her son’s organs and then, after several years, needed and received a heart transplant! Life can be like that. I was very serious about shot put as I had been good at it many (MANY) years ago. Well, not only did I do well, I earned gold in my age category and was fourth overall in the women’s event.

Well, I’ve saved the best for the last. Running a 100 M dash after a double lung transplant?? Let me take you back four years when my brother Ray visited me at a time when disease had taken most of my lung function. I could barely climb a flight of stairs.

My brother tried so hard to support and encourage me and actually said, “Carol, if you run again after your transplant, I’ ll quit smoking!” THAT was my drive to run and complete the 100 meters.

Having already struggled with the altitude, I wasn’t sure at the start line that I was going to be able to accomplish a run. Well, I did finish….not fast, but without breaking my stride. I was so excited, I just cried. My family was incredulous but, lucky for me, it was caught on tape so I had proof and another gold medal!

“THANK YOU” to the wonderful person who made it possible - my donor and his/her giving family! Now, I have to set new goals for 2014……or maybe the World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa in 2013…..hmmm?

(Editorial note: Brother, Ray, I hope you’re reading this!!)

More Than ‘Just’ SportsBy George Keulen (Double-Lung Transplant, June 2010)

The scene that greeted me in the Registration Lounge at the 2012 Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary I can best describe as “organized chaos.” People were going here and there, bags of merchandise, uniforms, and CTA t-shirts being passed this way and that. But what, at first, appeared to be a blur of transplant recipients, volunteers and support people, quickly became one of the most memorable weeks I have experienced since my transplant.

I went to the games in Calgary for one reason and one reason alone, to participate in sport competition. But what I found was so much more. Don’t get me wrong, the sports themselves were amazing, but they were only part of a much greater experience.

I have played sports for most of my life, but I can honestly say that this was the most fun I have ever had in competition. Cheering for people you don’t know and genuinely wanting to see everyone succeed; this was a truly moving experience. One event really captured for me the essence of the games. It was during the 20 km cycling race. Early on in the race, I and two other cyclists broke away from the main group and, for the next 10 km, rode in a near perfect pace line, helping each other and working like a team to make things easier. As we hit the halfway mark, the cyclist who was clearly the strongest told us he was going to go for it. We wished him good luck and he was gone. He gained three minutes on me and finished with an amazing time. Clearing seeing how much faster he was, I asked him why he stayed back for the first 10 km. He replied, “When else would I get the chance to race with two other guys who are also transplant recipients. It was great!” For me, this defined the spirit of the games. There was something more than just sports and competition out on the playing surface; there was a bond. We have all gone through some of the most difficult experiences that life has to offer and,

here we are, on the other side. Yes, we compete against each other but we know that, no matter who wins, we are all connected by something very special. And, by the way, just being at the games already makes you a winner.

But, however special the competition was, it was not the greatest memory my wife and I took home. The sports were great, but nothing compares with the sense of community and the friendships that were made at the games. At the Games you feel like you belong; you feel an instant connection to people you don’t even know. I often found myself not wanting meal times to end because of the great discussions that were going on. You can swap dialysis stories with people from across Canada and you just know they ‘get it’. You can meet people who share the same rare liver disease, who know the fear of coughing up blood while waiting for a lung transplant (grotesque, maybe, but a very profound connection). It is a place where there is no need for explanation, where people just understand and everyone is accepted. And it’s a place where everyone knows just how special life is.

This was my first Games so I really didn’t know what to expect. I went expecting to compete in sports events. But I left with new friendships, a true sense of community and an unspoken bond with everyone there. That is the true experience of the games.

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Mother and Daughter Enjoy Life After Heart TransplantsExcerpts from a story by Devon Jolie, AHS Intranet ‘Insite’

Organ donation saved Kristy Thackeray’s life when she was just 13. Years later, it would save her daughter’s life, too.

Diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart turns fatty and fibrous, making it hard to pump blood, Kristy’s prognosis was fatal unless a new heart could be found and successfully transplanted. “Your life is in waiting when you’re waiting for an organ,” Kristy says, now 29 and living in Calgary. All too many people understand this...786 people in Alberta alone are waiting for a life-saving organ.

It was hard to come to terms with the possibility that a match might not be found, but Kristy says she had tremendous support from her family and the Southern Alberta Transplant Program.

When she was diagnosed, she traveled from her Medicine Hat home to Edmonton...where she met with health professionals, counsellors and other...transplant patients. Five months later, a heart was found for Kristie and she received the transplant through the Transplant Program at the University of Alberta Hospital. Recalling her surgery, Kristy is thankful to the family who donated their child’s organs. “There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think of the child.”

Sherry Buckle, unit manager of the Southern Alberta Transplant Program, says that today they offer patients group education sessions, counsellors, peer support groups, and one-to-one care to help them cope with the transplant process. “We want to make all information available to patients and help them meet their needs,” she says.

And the Thackerays would need support from the program once again. When Kristy’s daughter Shaylynn was just two, she was also diagnosed with restrictive cardiomy-opathy. Kristy recalls the fear she felt, remembering the difficult waiting process. “The reality was that she needed a young heart,” she says, “and there are fewer young donors.” After one month of being on the transplant list, a 3 a.m. call confirmed that Shaylynn had a new heart. “I think it’s amazing that, when you are going through such devastation, you can actually think of someone else,” Kristy says of organ donation.

Because of that selfless kindness, Shaylynn, now 10, and her mother were able to participate in the 6th Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary. “The Games really showcase how you can live with a transplant,” Kristy says. Which, as Buckle says, is one of the goals of the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. “We strive to improve the quality of life and the long term outcomes of patients post transplant,” she says. “We help them understand how to help themselves.”

There will be a lifetime of medications, appointments and constant vigilance for both mother and daughter. But Kristy says it’s a small price to pay for enjoying life because of organ donation.

“It’s really important to see how you can have an impact on someone’s life when you’re gone,” she says. “Even if you’re able to donate five organs, that’s five different families that are going see their loved one live.....organ donation works.”

My Favorite Number (Alexandria’s Story)By Jessica Gold (Mother)

Everyone has a favorite number, but unlike most people, my number changes year to year. This year, my favorite is number “2”.

At only 5-months old, Alexandria received her 2nd chance at life; a liver transplant. 2-years later, we’re still celebrating her health and happiness. She has grown up and accomplished so much in the past 2 years, and she is teaching us, as parents, to appreciate life. We will never forget her donor family, nor will a day go by that we don’t think of him/her that passed……her donor…..her hero.

For her second anniversary, Alexandria shared a special moment with fellow transplant recipient, Ryley Mitchell. The girls released a pair of doves into the air for a beautiful show…a sky dance. Just like the girls and their donors…together and free; together and happy – the way they were meant to be.

The fact that there is hope for others to share these milestones in life through organ and tissue donation, no matter if it’s 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years or 10 years… it means the world to so many. Because Alexandria has received such a precious gift, she has a chance to give back, a chance to show that organ and tissue donation does work. How many kids can say that they participated in the Canadian Transplant Games and have the potential to win medals? Alexandria will be able to…in 2014 and 2016..…and 2018!

The transplant community of recipients, donor families and people waiting for their gift is one of the happiest, most thankful groups of people we will ever meet and, for that, we are thankful. And a BIG “Thank you” goes out to the donors and their families. Without you, I cannot imagine what life would be like.

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Mermaid Celebrates the Gift of LifeBy Grateful Parents

Six days of…Celebration, Inspiration and Family. Attending the Canadian Transplant Games is like coming home to family. It is a celebration of life. You are inspired by the athletes and all they have overcome. And by the donor families and the gifts they have given.

Seven years ago we didn’t know if our daughter Ryley was going to live or die. But because of the decision another family made to donate their child’s heart, Ryley was able to live and go on to participate in her second games and show how organ donation works!

One of Ryley’s favourite events to compete in was swimming. We often call Ryley a fish only to be corrected and told she is not a fish but a mermaid! Two years ago in Quebec, Ryley swam the 25m freestyle swim for the first time. She was only 5 years old and swam it with her life jacket on. This year, she swam it again but this time with no life jacket. Although in all her practices she had to grab on the rope at some point, she completed the race without having to do this. As I listened to everyone cheer Ryley on, I could not help but reflect on one of the volunteers that day, Greg Davis. Greg is brother to Victor Davis who was an Olympic swimmer and an organ donor. At the beginning of the race, Greg sprinkled water into the pool from the Victor Davis pool in Guelph as inspiration to the competitors. Because of the sacrifice of a family similar to the Davis family, Ryley was able to not only complete her race, but also participate in her first relay. As Greg placed the gold medals around his favourite “fairy princess”

Ryley’s neck, I was so thankful to families like his that made the hard decision to pass on life while in the midst of tragedy and give my child the chance to swim like a mermaid!

A year ago we had the privilege of meeting another transplant recipient in our community of Oxford County named Mike Sullivan. Although they are 50 years apart in age, Ryley and Mike have something in common; they both needed heart transplants to survive. Yet Ryley is the veteran transplantee having had her transplant in 2006 and Mike in 2011. Mike and Ryley show that there is a need for organ donors no matter what the age. They made Oxford County proud coming home with 8 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze between them.

There is truly no more wonderful experience for both Ryley and our family than attending the Canadian Transplant Games. It is a place to be able to celebrate the gift of life with others who appreciate how precious that gift is. It is a place for Ryley to meet other kids that are just like her. And you haven’t been to a party until you have been to a transplant gala! We hope to see even more families at the 2014 games!

Ryley Mitchell and Victor Davis Can you tell who the veteran in this picture is?

Medical Student Cycles Across CanadaBy Jennifer Holman

Quinn Thomas, a second-year medical student from Montreal, Quebec, visited the Canadian Trans-plant Games this summer as he passed through Calgary on his cross-Canada cycling trek. In medical school, Quinn became conscious that many patients have to wait to access health care services, espe-cially those waiting for organ or tissue donation.

“Whereas I can predict I will have my diploma in three years, they remain uncertain when, or even if, they will receive a transplant”, he observed. As a medical student, he realized, “Seeing these statistics, I have to do something – as a citizen and as a future doctor.”

Quinn decided he could make a difference by raising awareness and promoting the importance of organ and tissue donation so, on June 24, he travelled to Tofino, BC, the western-most point of the Trans-Canada Highway to begin his 8,730-kilometre cycling trip across Canada. His solo journey coast-to-coast from Tofino to St. John’s, Newfoundland would take Quinn four months. He was shocked to realize that his trek across the country would take him less time than most people wait for a transplant. The average wait for a living donor kidney transplant, for instance, is almost 4.5 months in Canada while the typical wait for deceased donor is more than 3.5 years.

Along the way, Quinn relied on the kindness of fellow Canadians for a backyard to sleep in or a meal to sustain him. In each city en route, he took the opportunity to speak to local officials and the public about the importance of organ donation. Quinn’s goal was simple and straight-forward; to have an immediate impact on the number of people who decide to sign their donor cards or register their intent to be an organ donor.

“Although cycling across Canada is a considerable undertaking,” Quinn said, “ it does not compare to waiting for a transplant. These patients are real heroes to me. And so is anyone who signs his or her donor card. Let’s join forces to honour life in the Canadian spirit of people helping people.”

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Personal Bests and Important MessagesBy Andrew Drysdale

In the past, I have been fortunate to attend three British Transplant Games, the European Heart & Lung Transplant Games and, in 2011, the World Transplant Games in Sweden. Last year I relocated from England to Canada and, now, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to attend the 6th Canadian Transplant Games held in Calgary, Alberta July 16 - 22. Six provinces were represented this year including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec as well as international entrants from the USA and Mexico with some traveling as far as 4000 miles to join the competition. The games were a huge success!!!

Around 150 athletes joined me in the competition with over 200+ supporters. The youngest competitor at the games was age 7, a heart transplant recipient like me, and the oldest was 77!! There was an amazing spectrum of people, all of varying levels of fitness, each who have had their lives saved or dramatically improved by organ donation.

I won gold in all of my individual events, competing in long jump, high jump and 10-pin bowling. I even recorded personal bests in both long jump (4.42 M) and high jump (1.40 M). I also hit a “turkey” in the bowling and won gold for that too!! To give the audience a treat, I decided to parade around the bowling alley mimicking a turkey AKA “The Turkey Dance”!! I had the chance to participate in two team events as well - volleyball and floor hockey. I played goalie for the first half….it was very hard! I have total admiration for hockey players now!! These events were not “medal” events, but taking part was awesome.

I really enjoyed my time in Calgary. The thrill and excitement of the Calgary Winter Olympic Park, where I did a bobsled run and zip-lined down the Olympic ski jump, was an experience I won’t soon forget.

I hope that having read my story, you will accept my personal plea to talk with your friends and family about organ donation and to find out how to “sign-up” to be an organ donor in your province. Remember to live your life to the fullest and enjoy as much of it as possible!

A Fan’s StoryBy Linda Bowers

My name is Linda Bowers and I live in Kitchener, Ontario. This past July 19, I reached my third-year anniversary of a double lung transplant. Prior to transplant, I was quite ill and was required to attend physiotherapy sessions, both here and in Toronto. In doing so, I came to know many other patients on the waiting list, as well those who had already received their Gift of Life. Many of these I consider dear friends and they have endeared themselves to me with their support and friendship. Their zest for life is truly inspiring and also very contagious. Through this network of friends I have had the opportunity to become involved in various activities which promote organ donation awareness. There are times when health issues crop up that prevent me from participating as much as I would like but I am more determined each day to do as much as possible.

Although I was not able to go, I cheered for all of them as they posted pictures each day and commentaries of their experiences. As the games progressed, I was more determined than ever that, barring health issues, I would be there for the 2014 Games.

This past July many of these people had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary. And when they returned home, with stories of the wonderful experiences and proudly displayed their medals, I felt a great amount of pride and happiness for each of them. So I have already begun my plans to get to the next Canadian Games and will do whatever is necessary to get there.

Events like this really bring together a community of recipients and donor families and provide enormous support for the goal of Organ Donation Awareness. One of the great aspects of this kind of event is the network that is formed of pre- and post-transplant patients who can discuss and share their own experiences and expectations.

Sharing the JoyBy Arlene Sarhan Lindsay

It’s been a wonderful summer! I attended the 6th Canadian Transplant Games in July with hubby Jim and had the chance to meet with wonderful old friends we hadn’t seen since the last games. It’s like time had stood still. And it’s always so special to meet the “newbies”, too. The games just keep getting bigger and better. It’s about trying your best at your chosen events, not whether you win or not. The point is you were there and a big part of it all.

We all know we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our donors. Recently, I mailed a gold medal to my donor family. It feels so good to honour their loved one by sharing in my joy. I told my donor family the gold medal represents so much for me -- LIFE, LOVE and hard work. It also represents a celebration of 20 years since I had a liver transplant. I am sincerely grateful for the chance to honour my donor by competing in these games. Life is good!!

C.T.A. Alberta would like to gratefully acknowledge the many, many volunteer hours contributed by each and every member of our talented and enthusiastic Local Organizing Committee. Thanks to their hard work, the 6th Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary, Alberta July 2012 were a huge success. Next time you see any of them, shake their hand and thank them for a job WELL DONE!! Our L.O.C. included committees coordinating:

Registration & Logistics Transportation Medals & Memorabilia Athlete’s Village Volunteers Social Events & Ceremonies Sports, Facilities & Medical Services Media, Publicity & Fundraising

Our Committee Members (alphabetically):

Allen Adrian Andrea Griffin Ashley Cook Carly Stagg Carol Hockley Corina Bohnet Dave Smith Deb Diemer Debra Fortin Devone Johnston Gail Nicholson Hadia Alyas Harry Cremers Jennifer Anderson Jim Semper Jody Yakubowski John Brost

Karen Spielman Kathy McGillivray Katie Bird Kim Blackie Kyle Nunweiler Michelle Brown Neil Folkins Patti Hunt Ron Lalonde Scott Ouellette Shauna Rivait Susan Fritz Teresa Trottman Teri Lang Teri Signer Tina Siebert

And I know many more friends and family members helped out from time to time. Thank you to all of you for the wonderful time enjoyed by all of our athletes and their supporters.

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7th Annual Tennis Tournament a Huge Success/Tournoi de tennis amical: toujours aussi populaire!Translated by Gordon Denison from Au Coeur de Don, Vol. 5, no. 3, Sept. 2012

The weather was once again in favor for the 7th annual tennis tournament, for organ and tissue donation awareness. The event was organized by Gaston Martin, heart transplant recipient and a Quebec Director of the Canadian Transplant Association. The event was a huge success! In total, 82 participants played in the tournament September 7, 2012 at Pointe-aux-Trembles. Due to the popularity of the event, it was unfortunate that last-minute registrations had to be refused.

The morning of the event, participants were treated to a presentation about organ donation and 2011 statistics given by speaker Dr. Jean-François Lizé, intensivist, pulmonologist and Medical Director of Transplant Québec. Following the presentation, players competed in friendly matches on immaculate courts. At the end of the tournament, Marie-Ève Lalonde, a counselor for improvement of the quality and care of transplant recipients, awarded Robert Fontaine and Valérie Burns with plaques for their respective first place finishes. These plaques will be engraved with their names and on display at the Cage aux Sports restaurant in Repentigny.

This tournament had much local help this year from various sponsors including IGA Crevier de Repentigny, Guillaume Fleury of Uniprix, Repentigny Luminaires, Mona Jabalee of Black Knight, The Cage aux Sports restaurant of Repentigny, Auto Chem Claude Dagenais, Nicole Norbert of Tennis Montréal, François Giguère of Tennis Québec, plus the representatives of Transplant Québec and Héma-Québec. Gaston Martin was also thankful to have the assistance of volunteers Claude and Marielle Cloutier, Jacques Frenette and Lucie Lafrenière, all of whom contributed to the tournament’s success.

Le beau temps était encore au rendez-vous pour cette 7ième édition du tournoi de tennis amical pour la promotion dud don d’organes et de tissus. L’événement organisé par M. Gaston Martin, greffé cardiaque et représentant de l’Association canadienne des greffés, a été un franc succès! En tout, 82 participants ont pris part au tournoi qui s’est déroulé le 7 septembre dernier, à Pointe-au-Trembles. D’ailleurs, la popularité de l’événement a été telle que l’organisation a été contrainte de refuser des inscriptions.

En début de journée, les participants ont eu droit à une présentation sur le don d’organes en 2011 de la part du Dr Jean-François Lizé, directeur médical adjoint de Transplant Québec, médecin intensiviste et pneumologue. Par la suite, les joueurs ont envahi les terrans de tennis afin de s’affronter amicalement. À la fin du tournoi, Mme Marie- Ève Lalonde, conseillère à la qualité et au soutien à l’agément chez Tranplant Québec est venue remettre aux gagnants du tournoi, M. Robert Fontaine et Mme Valérie Burns, la plaque commémorant leur victoire respective. Après inscription de leurs noms sure celle-ci, la plaque sera exposée toute l’année au restaurant la Cage aux Sports de Repentigny.

Par ailleurs, encore cette année, l’organisation du tournoi de tennis amical a pu bénéficier de nombreaux appuis pour la concrétisation de son événement dont le IGA Crevier de Repentigny, Guillaume Fleury de la pharmacie Uniprix, Repentigny Luminaires, Mona Jabalee de Black Knight, le restaurant la Cage aux Sports de Repentigny, Auto Chem Claude Dagenais, Nicole Norbert de Tennis Montréal et François Giguère de Tennis Québec, en plus de représentants de Transplant Québec et d’Héma-québec. De plus, M. Martin tenait également à remercier quatre bénévoles qui ont contribué grandement au succès de la journée soit, M. et Mme Claude et Marielle Cloutier, M. Jacques Frenette et Mme Lucie Lafrenière.

A Dream Come TrueBy Johnny Frias

Hi, my name is Johnny Frias and I am 16 years old. When I was four and a half years old, I received the gift of life from my dad…a new kidney. This past summer has been difficult for me as I have been experiencing rejection and other minor complications. Even so, I could not have been happier than to hear the news that my wish was about to come true.

In August, the Children’s Wish Foundation granted me the chance to go to London, England to watch the Olympics.......How cool was that!! It was amazing to see all those people in one stadium cheering on the athletes and I got to see my favorite athlete, Bolt, receive his gold medal. I was one happy boy and this wouldn’t have happened without all the hard work from the Children’s Wish Foundation. They really do make children’s dreams come true and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Going to London really motivated me to become the best that I can be regardless of what health issues I may have to face in the future. Being a long-time participant of the

Canadian and World Transplant Games makes me very proud of what I have achieved so far as an athlete. I have earned a total of 38 medals and I plan to attend many more of the transplant games - not just for the medals but for the overall experience. Telling my story to others and hearing their stories is so inspirational and this shows us that we are not alone. We all have something in common and now it’s time for us to spread the word to others that organ donation does work. Thanks to my Dad I am here to show the world nothing can stop me!!

BE STRONG AND LIVE THE DREAM……I know I am……LIFE IS A GIFT, CHERISH IT FOREVER!!

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Wheelbarrow for Organ and Tissue Donation/ Concours de brouette pour le don d’organes et de tissusBy Gordon Denison

This summer, local residents of Ste Béatrix, Québec held an event with Transplant Québec to promote organ and tissue donation. This popular event is a wheelbarrow competition. Locals try to lift and carry as many 66-pound bags of sand as they can in one load and walk for a distance of 35 feet without letting the wheelbarrow touch the ground.

Canadian Transplant Association Quebec Director and heart transplant recipient, Gaston Martin, was asked to participate at the competition. His first lift was an empty wheelbarrow weighing a mere 150 pounds so he asked if they would add at least one bag, weighing 66 pounds, into the wheel barrel. He was told that he was disqualified because he was not wearing the proper shoes, something he should have been told at the beginning of the competition. Gaston soon found out that they were only joking.

There was no surprise to see Gaston lift a wheelbarrow loaded to 675 pounds and walk the complete distance. However, when it was revealed that he is a 66 year old heart transplant recipient, they were absolutely stunned. People soon rushed over to a kiosk that was set up by Gaston, and received information about organ and tissue donation. This was his second year at the competition and he had lots of fun and hopes to continue with this event.

Cet été, un résident de Sainte-Béatrix, Québec, organisait un évènement haut en couleur pour promouvoir le don d’organes et de tissus. Le concours de brouette, populaire dans la municipalité, a attiré plusieurs participants qui devaient transporter une brouette remplie de sacs de sable pesant chacun 30 kilos sur la plus longue distance possible, sans poser la brouette au sol.

Gaston Martin, directeur pour le Québec de l’Association canadienne des greffés et greffé du cœur, participait au concours. Au premier essai, comme la brouette vide pesait seulement 68 kilos, il a réclamé qu’on y ajoute au moins un sac de 30 kilos. Puis, on lui a annoncé qu’il était disqualifié parce qu’il ne portait pas les chaussures appropriées et qu’il aurait dû être avisé avant le début de la compétition. On imagine la réaction de Gaston quand il a appris que c’était une blague!

Personne n’a été surpris quand Gaston a finalement levé la brouette, qui pesait plus de 300 kilos, et a franchi toute la distance. Mais quand les spectateurs ont appris qu’il a 66 ans et est greffé du coeur, ils ont été épatés!

Pas étonnant qu’ils se soient rendus par la suite en grand nombre au kiosque où Gaston distribuait de l’information sur le don d’organes et de tissus! C’était la deuxième édition de ce concours et il a eu beaucoup de plaisir. Il se promet de continuer d’y participer.

Calgary, Alberta celebrated its Centennial Stampede this year and the Canadian Transplant Association was thrilled to be a part of that celebration.

Thanks to the unstoppable energy and enthusiasm of Patti Hunt, Media and Publicity Chair for the 6th Canadian Transplant Games, we hosted a float in the opening parade July 6, 2012. An estimated 400,000 visitors from around the world lined the streets to witness one of Canada’s largest parades as it wound its way through the city center. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi were among the celebrity guests who donned their cowboy hats to watch or participate in the parade marshalled by country music legend Ian Tyson.

The CTA float, including transplant recipients, transplant program staff and donor families, embodied the Stampede theme that “We’re Greatest Together”. Participants, riding or walking alongside the float, engaged the crowd as they waved and called out messages of organ donation awareness. The float was pulled by Patti’s “brainchild” – a running shoe festooned with photos of our heroes; our organ donors. Congratulations to Patti and her hard-working crew for securing a spot for us in this historic, milestone parade and for bringing Patti’s vision to life.

Calgary boasted daily record attendances during the 10 days of its 100th Stampede and our Games Organizing Committee ensured that promotions for our Games, our 25th anniversary and our message of organ and tissue donation were visible throughout the city. CTA Alberta is proud to have been a part of this very special event would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the entire Committee. Well Done!!

Two girls out for an afternoon stroll........less than 24 hours after her kidney transplant, Janice Locke, CTA Treasurer, walks with her sister and kidney donor, Katherine. Both are doing very well. Katherine is back in Ancaster recovering nicely and Janice is home answering phone calls and e-mails - she would love to hear from you. What an amazing story!! Your friends and colleagues in CTA wish you well Janice.

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