By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM
The Summer Olympics have started in Paris, France. This international multi-sport event has captured worldwide attention. Did you know there is an Olympics for the transplant community? Every two years, the Transplant Games of America celebrate the lives of organ, eye, and tissue transplant recipients, donors, and families. This event is the world's largest gathering of the transplant community, and it is hosted in different cities across the United States. It is a multi-sport festival founded in 1990 by the National Kidney Foundation. It is now a comprehensive event supported by many organizations, including Novartis Pharmaceuticals, CareDx, Transplant Life Foundation, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Lifesharing, Sanofi, Eurofins Transplant Genomics, and others. The primary goal is to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation, honor donors' lives, and celebrate recipients' health and achievements.
This year, the Transplant Games of America were held in Birmingham from July 5 through July 10, 2024. The theme was "Sharing Stories, Sharing Life." Over 3,000 participants from almost every state participated. The games are open to transplant recipients of all ages, living donors, donor families, and supporters. Transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families can compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in individual and team/relay events. Participants can compete in various sports and activities, including basketball, cycling, golf, swimming, volleyball, pickleball, track and field, tennis, and ballroom dancing. There are three divisions.
Division I: Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Division II: Living Donors, Cornea & Tissue Recipients, Bone Marrow Recipients
Donor Families/Living Donor Families
There is also a trivia challenge competition, and Texas Hold 'em poker! Members of my local transplant support group competed and won awards! In addition to competitive sports, there are non-competitive activities like donor tributes, workshops, and social events to foster community and support among participants. The event includes an opening ceremony and awards ceremonies.
Special events focus on the lives and accomplishments of transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families. One of the special events is the Donor Quilts, where participants are encouraged to bring a quilt square that tells the story of a donor. It is a beautiful way for donor families, friends, and transplant recipients to pay tribute to the heroes who, through their gift, have offered others a second chance at life. The completed quilt represents the spirit of giving through organ, tissue, corneal, and bone marrow donation. Another special event is the Quarter Century Club Dinner which honors those whose lives have been touched by organ transplantation for 25 years or more. This event marks the passage of time and the enduring strength and camaraderie that binds those who have experienced an organ transplant.
The mission of the Transplant Games is to highlight the amazing medical miracle of transplantation, to honor the sacrifice of living and deceased donors, and to promote the success of organ, eye, and tissue transplantation. It is hoped the Transplant Games will increase public awareness about the need for organ donation and encourage people to register as donors. Additionally, the games help build community by celebrating life, highlighting the successes of transplant recipients, and showcasing the transformative power of organ donation. The event highlights the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. It also fosters a sense of community and camaraderie among participants who share a common journey of survival, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the preciousness of life. This tribute is a testament to the selflessness of donors.
For more detailed information, please visit the Transplant Games of America website.
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Bio: Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM is a transplant case manager with a wide variety of experiences including educator, administrator, team leader, and Director of Case Management. Janet holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Adult Education from Marshall University. She has published many articles in CMSA Today and the Professional Case Management Journal and served as a reviewer for the Core Curriculum for Case Management Third Edition. She currently serves as President of CMSA, Chair of the CMSA Today Editorial Board, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Vice-President of the CMSA Foundation board. Janet was the recipient of the CMSA National Award of Service Excellence and Southern Ohio Valley CMSA Case Management Leadership award and was recently inducted as a Case Management Fellow from CMSA.