Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/339692
t m c ยป p u l s e | j u ly 2 0 1 4 18 The Faces of Team Texas More than 245 recipients, living donors and donor families will represent Team Texas during the Transplant Games of America's opening ceremonies. DANA Age 41 S H O T P U T LORALEI Age 3 C O R N H O L E AUSTIN Age 33 C Y C L I N G H E A R T R E C I P I E N T Houston Methodist Hospital, 2007 Events: Basketball, Bowling, 5K, Track & Field I hope to make people aware of how important it is to register as an eye, tissue, skin and organ donor. There is a great quality of life after trans- plantation. I do ninety percent of what I use to do, and the other ten percent I shouldn't have been doing anyway. In my spare time, I volun- teer by talking to patients waiting to be transplanted and singing with the Salvation Army Habor Light Choir. L I V E R R E C I P I E N T The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 2009 Events: 5K I am very grateful and fortunate to be given a second chance of life. Starting in 2009, I was admitted to six different ICUs, and was given only 30 days left to live. Two weeks later, on December 8, 2009, I received a full liver transplant at UTMB Galveston. Since then, I have been active, starting a transplant patient support group and promot- ing organ donation awareness. K I D N E Y R E C I P I E N T Houston Methodist Hospital, 2001 Events: Cycling I received a kidney from my mom. In 2001, at 20 years old, becoming athletic and physically fit after my transplant was a goal of mine. I wanted to enjoy the freedom of being outside after spending a lot of time indoors in a dialysis clinic, and cycling allows me to do that. At first, it was a struggle to just walk a mile. Now I can ride 100. WILLIE Age 62 B A S K E T B A L L RICK Age 56 5 K H E A R T R E C I P I E N T Houston Methodist Hospital, 2008 Events: Table Tennis, Volleyball, Track & Field Before the heart issues, I was always active. I remember telling God that I would wait as long as it takes to get a transplant. On December 24, 2008, I had the transplant. Since transplantation, I started back up with Taekwondo and received my black belt. I was also a medal winner in four out of five events in the 2010 and 2012 transplant games. H E A R T R E C I P I E N T Texas Children's Hospital, 2013 Events: Cornhole, Ball Throw, Track & Field With my new heart and second chance, I get to run and jump and just be a kid. I compete because I can. Before my transplant, I had a trachea and spent up to 16 hours a day tethered to my ventilator. Running and jumping was out of the question because I ran out of breath walking across the room. With my new heart, I can play and be free. I even got rid of my trach. (Credit: Terry Vine Photography)