THE POWER OF TWO nears its final shoot at the 2010 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games in Madison, Wisconsin: the country’s largest gathering of organ transplant communities. We travel to The Games on July 30-31 with a group of over 30 recipient-athletes including the Stenzel Twins, donor family members, and supporters coming together as Team NorCal. California Transplant Donor Network, organizer of Team NorCal, recently hosted a bbq & team meeting where we had the pleasure of getting to know many of these athletes. Never have you come across a group of individuals so bright, friendly, and grateful to live every breath to the fullest! Each has a unique, powerful story that we have highlighted with individual profiles. These are the faces of second life that motivate our fight for organ donation awareness- Go Team NorCal!
Introducing Team NorCal:
Ana Stenzel
Competitions: Swimming, Track & Field
Transplant: Double Lung (2000 & 2007)
Quote: “To me the Games are about challenging your body to be in the best shape possible. It is about making the most of the gift we’ve been given by striving to be athletic and use those lungs. I cherish the camaraderie, the celebration of health and the poignant meaning of honoring donors and their families at the Games. I am privileged to attend my fifth Games.”
Isa Stenzel Byrnes
Competitions: Swimming, Track & Field, Volleyball
Transplant: Double Lung (2004)
Quote: “I celebrate my 4th games– and my growing community of transplant friends– with excellent health thanks to the strong lungs I received from my donor.”
Jill Nolen
Competitions: Bowling, Volleyball, Tennis
Transplant: Liver (1989)
Quote: “I became a survivor on September 26, 1989. Now I am 21 and a senior in college! Life is (definitely) good.”
Tom Martin
Competitions: Basketball, Volleyball, Cycling (5k & 20k)
Transplant: Double Lung (July 2006)
Quote: “There are no words that I can express to thank my donor family for the gift of life. I can only express for the love of life and the love to have the ability to be athletic.”
Roy Ames
Competitions: Badminton, Volleyball, Cycling (20k)
Transplant: Liver (2001)
Quote: “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” -Buddhist quote
Paul Yang
Competitions: Swimming (Paul has competed in 1990, 1992, 2004, 2006, 2008 U.S. Transplant Games!)
Transplant: Liver (22 Years)
Quote: “The inspiration from 1990 US Transplant Games have kept my spirit up. I always look forward to joining the Games.”
Paul Gassen
Competitions: Golf, Volleyball
Transplant: Heart (5 years)
Quote: “With the gift of life I received, I set a goal to play golf in all 50 states as I spread the word about organ donation and transplant. My wife and I have played in 22 states since my transplant.”
Tom Glennon
Competitions: Swimming
Transplant: Kidney (1996)
Quote: “All of my heroes have transplants.”
Tiffany Van Alst
Competitions: Fast Walk, High Jump, Long Jump, 100 Meter Relay
Transplant: Kidney (5 years – 6 in August!)
Quote: “Never Give up and you can do it too! Just start with a goal and then just get up and go!”
Nancy Lonhart
Competitions: Swimming, Track & Field
Transplant: Kidney (1993)
Quote: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, WOW- What a ride!”
Stacey Collver
Competitions: Badminton
Transplant: Double Lung (Stanford, November 2004)
Quote: “I am forever grateful to my donor family for almost six years of new life, and the opportunity to play badminton in the Transplant Games. Hearing about the Games from Ana and Isa gave me hope and inspiration for life!”
Ed Beteta
Competitions: Basketball, Softball Throw, Volleyball
Transplant: Kidney (June 14, 2007)
Quote:“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.”
Kathy Clark
Competitions: Bowling
Transplant: Liver
Quote: “By receiving the ‘Gift of Life’ from a stranger, I appreciate every day and look forward to my first Transplant Games.”
David Anderson
Competitions: Table Tennis
Transplant: Heart (2007)
Quote: “Life’s not fair, but it goes on. Live your life to the fullest and never give up.”
Kay Saunders
Competitions: Track, Basketball, Cycling
Transplant: Kidney (2003)
Quote: “Enjoy life, Love life and laugh with life.”
Sharon Sumner
Competitions: Bowling
Transplant: Heart (2005)
Sean O’Rourke
Competitions: Swimming, Track & Field, Cycling
Transplant: Kidney (2009)
Quote: “It is not how far or fast you go, it’s just about getting out there.”
Harry Mills
Competitions: Swimming
Transplant: Kidney, Pancreas (October 2006)
Quote: “My big excitement is the shape I’ve ben able to get in since my transplant. I hope to show my donor family, if they are watching, that when people have a transplant it’s their second chance at life – that their loved ones’ passing isn’t in vain.”
Find us at the Games: See our Expo Booth info page and RSVP on Facebook to record your transplant miracle in our PowerStudio Video-Grams! Happy training, we’ll see you in Madison.
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