Athletes head to US Transplant games in Kentucky next week
STATE ATHLETES HEADING TO U.S. TRANSPLANT GAMES IN KENTUCKY NEXT WEEK
LOGAN, Utah — Twenty seven athletes from the states of Utah and Idaho will join more than 2,000 athletes from around the nation in Louisville, Ky. for the 13th United States Transplant Games presented by the National Kidney Foundation June 17-20.
The transplant games are contested every two years for any man, woman or child who has received a life-saving organ transplant, including kidney, lung, heart, liver, pancreas or bone marrow.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in a dozen sports including badminton, three on three basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, racquetball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, volleyball and a 5K race. Approximately 2,000 athletes competed in the last games held in Minneapolis, Minn. in 2004.
For the first time, the states of Utah and Idaho will combine for one team called Team Utah-Idaho.
The local team consists of athletes with ages ranging from six to 63 years old. Lee Johnson, who has recently moved to Layton, Utah after living in Soda Springs, Idaho, edged 62-year old Leigh Cropper for the team’s oldest athlete honor.
Johnson had a heart transplant in 2001 at the age of 58 and will be participating in the games for the third time. He is signed up to play golf and compete in the track events of discus throw, high jump and long jump. He won a bronze medal in the long jump in 2004.
“What a great thrill it is to be alive and able to participate in these games,” Johnson said. “These are things I never thought would ever happen again. A miracle happened that day in October of 2001. Thank God for willing donors and especially the sweet lady who had completed her life here on earth and gave me this “Second Chance.”
Six-year old Megan Larsen of Veyo, Utah will be making her third appearance in the games after undergoing a liver transplant at age two. The soon to be second grader received a liver from her father and will compete in bowling, biking, long jump and softball throw this year.
In 2004, Team Utah brought home 31 total medals, including seven gold medals. Brayden Symour, then a 17-year old, led the team by winning four medals, including two golds (boy’s shot put, 50-meter breast stroke) and two silvers (long jump, 5K road race).
The primary sponsor of the Games is Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. The Games aim to call attention to the desperate need for more organ donors in this country, while showcasing the success of transplantation. The Games are also a tribute to the 4,000 donor families who make the decision to give the gift of life each year.
More than 89,000 people are currently awaiting life-saving transplants in this country and 17 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. Signing up to become an organ donor is easy. Just call the National Kidney Foundations of Utah or Idaho or go online at www.yesutah.com or www.yesidaho.com.
NOTE TO MEDIA:
Bios on 12 of the athletes who responded to a questionnaire are list below, along with contact information if you would like to do a story on any of them. Results of the games will be sent out following the competition.
Any questions please do not hesitate to call Mike Strauss at (435) 797-1361 (work) or cell (435) 770-3131. Most people will probably be leaving for the games on Friday, June 16 and returning Wednesday, June 21 or Thursday, June 22. For more information the games go online at: www.kidney.org/news/tgames/index.cfm.
TEAM UTAH-IDAHO2006 U.S. Transplant Games Athlete Bios(From those that responded to a questionnaire)
Blake AndersonAge: 18Grace, IdahoLiver Transplant, 1990 (age 2)Phone: (208) 425-3175
2006 EventsGolf, Bowling, Team Bowling, Basketball
Transplant Games History4th Games (2000, 02, 04)2000 – Bronze in long jump and basketball2002 – Gold in basketball, silver in long jump, bronze in golf2004 – Silver in golf, bronze in basketball and bowling
Quickly Is a student, who enjoys golf, bowling, fishing and spending time with his friends and familyÅ Participated in basketball and golf in high schoolÅ Had a transplant due to Alpha 1 Antitrypsen Disease (genetic condition).
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Ashton ArndtAge: 9Sandy, UtahLiver Transplant, 1997 (six months old)Phone: (801) 495-0197
2006 Events5K, softball throw, long jump, discus
Games History3rd Games (2000, 04)2004 – Silver medal in 5K
Quickly Received a living donor liver from her motherÅ The transplant was the first parent-to-child living related transplant in UtahÅ Has never been hospitalized since the transplantÅ Suffered from Biliary AtresiaÅ Hobbies include playing the cello, as well as baseball, basketball, flag football and soccer.
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Leigh CropperAge: 62Salt Lake County (unincorporated)Liver Transplant, 2002 (age 58)Phone: (801) 266-3280
2006 Events:Bowling, Racquetball
Transplant Games History2nd games (2004)2004 – Gold in racquetball
Quickly Has not met donor family, but knows that the liver came from someone in Reno, NevÅ Had a transplant due to Alpha 1 Antitrypsen Disease (genetic condition)Å Needed a second transplant a week after the first one after the first liver failed immediatelyÅ Is a retired integrated circuit designerÅ Hobbies include bowling, golf, taking piano lessons and travelingÅ Played tennis and wrestled in high schoolÅ Spouse is Nancy and has five children and 12 grandchildrenÅ Has qualified to be a contestant on the television show Jeopardy) and will be on their call list for the next year.
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Joe FrazierAge: 28Oakley, UtahLiver Transplant, 1994 (age 16)Phone: (435) 783-5233
2006 EventsGolf, Badminton, Volleyball, 5K
Transplant Games History2nd Games (2004)2004 – Bronze in badminton
Quickly Is a middle school history teacherÅ Enjoys sports, reading, hunting and campingÅ Played baseball until his transplantÅ Also played football and golf.
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Lee N. JohnsonAge: 63Layton, Utah (after moving recently from Soda Springs, Idaho)Heart Transplant, 2001 (age 58)Phone: (208) 540-0986
2006 EventsGolf, Discus, High Jump, Long Jump
Games History3rd Transplant Games (2002, 04)2004 – Bronze in long jump
Quickly Is retired from Monsanto Company where he worked as a safety orientorÅ His congestive heart failure led him to his heart transplantÅ Has written the donor family, but has not heard backÅ Understands that he received a woman’s heart and that it was the first transplant of an older heart into a younger personÅ First wife Jeannette was with him in 2002 and 2004 games before she died of cancer in 2005Å New spouse is Sybil LeeÅ Went from having three children and nine grandchildren to nine children and 23 grandchildrenÅ Competed in basketball, football and track in high school.
“Once again, I will probably hold the honor of being the oldest participant on the Utah-Idaho Team. What a great thrill it is to be alive and able to participate in these games. These are things I never thought would ever happen again. A miracle happened that day in October of 2001. Thank God for willing donors and especially the sweet lady who had completed her life here on earth and gave me this “Second Chance.”
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Megan LarsenAge: 6Veyo, UtahLiver Transplant, 2001 (age 2)Phone: (435) 574-3241
2006 EventsBowling, biking, long jump, softball throw
Games History3rd Games (2002, 04)
Quickly Making her third appearance at the games after first participating at the age of twoÅ Suffered from liver cancer and received a liver from her fatherÅ Will be in second grade at Diamond Valley Elementary this fallÅ Spends time with her brothers and sisters and helps take care of the family’s animals.
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Barney NelsonAge: 28Midvale, UtahLiver Transplant, 2005 (age 27)Phone: (801) 550-7594
2006 Events5K Run, basketball, golf, bowling
Games History1st Games
Quickly Had a liver transplant due to having PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis)Å Works for Delta AirlinesÅ He is married to Ana and they have one childÅ Hobbies include skiing, carts, and camping.
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Riley NelsonAge: 12West Jordan, UtahHeart Transplant, 1994 (seven weeks old)Phone: (801) 597-5286
2006 EventsBowling, track, cycling, 5K
Games History6th Games (1996, 98, 2000, 2002, 2004)Medals in bowling, 50 meter dash, cycling and 5K road race
Quickly Was born with Hypoplastic left heart and received a transplant at seven weeks oldÅ Two years ago when the games were in Minnesota, the family visited the grave of the baby who was Riley’s donor. However they have never met the donor’s familyÅ The seventh-grader enjoys playing baseball and bowling.
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Sally OgaardAge: 49Salt Lake City, UtahKidney Transplant, 1993 (age 37)Phone: (801) 466-6866
2006 EventsGolf, Track and Field
Games History7th GamesHas won a number of medals over the years, including gold in golf, swimming and track and field, silver in golf and swimming and bronze in golf and swimming
Quickly Works as a travel counselor for American ExpressÅ Suffered from diabetes before receiving her transplantÅ Her mother was a living donor for her and donated at the age of 67Å Participated in swimming and softball in high schoolÅ Loves all sports.
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Brayden SeymourAge: 19Kaysville, UtahLiver Transplant, 1988 (10 months old)Phone: (801) 451-6630
2006 EventsSwimming, 5K, bowling, volleyball
Games History7th GamesHas won 15 medals over the year with golds in the 5K, swimming, basketball and track.
Quickly Suffered from Biliary Atresia and received his transplant at 10 months oldÅ Just graduated from Davis High SchoolÅ Participated in the marching bandÅ Hobbies include music, dance and sports.
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Mike StraussAge: 41Logan, UtahLiver Transplant, 2001 (age 37)(435) 797-1361
2006 EventsBasketball, Golf, Team Golf, Tennis
Games History2nd Games (2004)2004 – Gold in golf, bronze in basketball and team golf
Quickly Works as the athletic media relations director at Utah State UniversityÅ Needed a transplant after being diagnosed with PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis)Å Received liver from a 52-year old woman, who donated several of her organs, and has become friends with her children, one who lives in Utah County and one in Salt Lake CityÅ Married to Lisa and they have two childrenÅ Hobbies include golf, basketball, and coaching youth sports.
Ties to Kentucky Worked with several members of the Louisville football coaching staff when they were at Utah State, including head coach Bob Petrino and assistants Paul Petrino and Tom McMahon, as well as strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp.* * * * * *
Michael TuckerAge: 54Orem, UtahLiver Transplant, 1993 (age 41)Phone: (801) 377-3518 or (866) 800-3340
2006 EventsBasketball, golf, team golf
Games History7th Games (1994, 96, 98, 2000, 02, 04)
Quickly Has won a number of medals in previous transplant games, including silver in golf, and bronze medals in basketball and team golf in 2004Å Transplant was needed due to PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis)Å Played golf, football and basketball in high school before playing college golf at BYUÅ He and his wife Ann have four childrenÅ Hobbies include golf and mountain biking.
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Sandy GrayTeam Utah-Idaho Official Donor FamilySalt Lake City, UtahE-Mail: steffaun@hotmail.com
“We are a donor family that is going this year to the games. Our son (Brian Stewart) was a donor. He died June 22, 2004. The organs that were donated were his heart, liver, both kidneys and corneas, as well as tissue and bone. We are in contact with three of the recipients of his organs and all are doing wonderful. The liver recipient is who is sending us to the games.The dates of the games, June 16th thru June 22, are an unusual coincidence. Our son’s birthday is the 16th and he died the 22nd. He also was very involved in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah. He worked for the International Speed Skating Commission and was a referee for the long track speed skating. He was a speed skater himself. Also coached kids for speedskating at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Kearns, Utah.Along with his many other achievements he was in the Army Reserves and had just returned from Iraq three months prior to his death after serving 14 months on active duty there. He also was a civilian Army recruiter. He was a very active man. He lived more in his 25 years than I will in my life time.”– Sandy Gray