Congratulations Team Nor Cal!
Team Nor Cal was blessed to bring home 46 medals—29 Gold, 7 Silver and 10 Bronze! Even though the Transplant Games are NOT about winning medals, we had a good showing for Team Nor Cal. Thank you to the recipient athletes who gave it their all as well as to our donor families and supporters for cheering the athletes on!
Team Nor Cal gave away more than $10,000 in scholarships for team members in 2008. Thank you to everyone who raised money on so that all interested athletes and donor families could attend the Transplant Games without worrying about a financial burden.
Team Nor Cal was thrilled to welcome special guests this year. Laurie Stewart, a CTDN Donation Services Liaison (hospital education) was our official team photographer! From MTF (musculoskeletal transplant foundation), Lori Singh and Pat Black joined us as well. We had two ladies from Japan joining our team as spectators and volunteers as well. Harue Kimura is a kidney transplant coordinator in Japan and joins our team each year to recharge herself but also to root on Team NorCal. Taka Maeda is also from Japan and is waiting for a kidney transplant.
Anabel and Isabel Stenzel were featured at the Games EXPO in the booth "Creative Expression and Transplantation."
Thanks to excellent fundraising, our Team Nor Cal started the Games with a bonding Team Dinner at Max & Emmas Restaurant on Friday night! Speeches were given, plaques and thank you's were given to steering committee members, bathing suits were passed out, high calorie foods were consumed, and loud laughter and positive energy were spread all about!
Other team building activities included our Team Nor Cal team photo on Saturday morning before the Games EXPO. We also enjoyed laughing and chatting together as we gathered and entered as a group the Opening Ceremony on Saturday night at the D.L. Convention Center. Team Nor Cal was also able to enjoy a team dinner before the Closing Ceremony. People gave speeches about what the Games meant to them. Included were So Cal member Mark Graves, who was our former team manager, Lorma S. (Team Maryland), who was the recipient of Team Nor Cal donor family Jose and Zona Zaragoza's son Matt's lungs and heart. Chris from Team Connecticut joined us as well, because he was a former Team Nor Cal member. Our team motto is: ONCE A TEAM NOR CAL MEMBER, ALWAYS A TEAM NOR CAL MEMBER!
Team Nor Cal member Lacey Wood spoke at the Living Donor Ceremony on Monday. Her relatives played a fabulous music composition in a band at the ceremony. Team Nor Cal member and lung recipient Isabel Stenzel Byrnes performed her bagpipes at the Donor Recognition Ceremony on Sunday afternoon, right after winning two medals in swimming. Anabel Stenzel was blessed to receive the "Making Lives Better Award" at the Closing Ceremony at the Peterson Events Center on Tuesday night.
Team Member Comments:
"The games were so incredible! One of the top 5 experience's of my life; knocking on the top 3. I can't wait for 2010! The competing and the 3 medals were great but didn't even compare to the amazing people I met. It was like taking all the people with the best attitudes and the most appreciation for life and putting them together for a friendly competition. The kids races/ competition made me tear up the most. I couldn't help thinking how sad it would be if they didn't get the transplants. I think that is what has motivated me to get more involved more then anything else. The quote at the closing ceremonies that "People dying waiting for a transplant should be like someone dying from chicken pox", just made so much sense. There is no reason why anyone has to ever die waiting for a transplant. "- Tiffany, five-time kidney recipient
---
"The Transplant Games are a life changing experience in which we revel in the joys and gifts of health and sport, while remembering and grieving with donor families who have lost their loved ones. It is a profound event where people who have walked the transplant journey from sickness to health can share and learn from each other while loving and appreciating the donor families who made an unconditional selfless gift of life during times of tragedy. The Games bring out the best in people and reminds us of the goodness and love that exists when people share experiences of illness, loss and the rebirth of life after transplantation. We are family, celebrating each day and rejoicing in our athletic acheivements." - Ana, two-time double lung recipient
---
"I appreciate the opportunity to meet you all and hear your wonderful life stories. We at CTDN have an amazing opportunity to work with many of our donor families but don’t always have the rare chance I had over the last four days to see the wonderful lives that have been saved. I truly feel it was an honor to be a part of team “NorthCal “ and look forward to sharing our pictures together. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart, lungs, liver, kidneys…"- Laurie (aka CTDN co-photographer)
---
"I had the time of my life at the games. I was so inspired with donor family attending, that I decided to go ahead and write a letter to my own donor family..." Tom, double lung recipient
---
"I'm not a English native, so I'm sorry I use wrong word! It's hard to describe feelings and emotion and appreciation. Speechless!! Among my experience, this is the outstanding! By far the best. It was definitely life-changing. I love to hang out with Teamate NorCal. I hung out with you guys.... and other also of teammates. It was a lot of fun. They are kind and gracious. It's a privilege to know them... Everybody said "We are transplant family"!!! Don't you think so?? I'm looking forward to join next Wisconsin!! (I have to study English more!)
When I met donor family, I don't know how I talk to them to create an atmosphere of both solemnity and cheerfulness, because this is the first time to talk with donor families for me. In Japan, for donor family we have to be very serous and solemn... I am glad I had a chance to share this feeling at the Games. The Games end on a positive note. Amazing donor families have smiling face and a happy heart. They believe the Games will express human unity, bright hope, and strength.
In Japan, transplant recipient is very few, they look sicker than you. They always talk about disease, disease disease, very serious.American's happy personality contrasts with our dark ones.And Japanese media tend to broadcast bad aspect of transplant like organ-transplant trade. American recipients are so powerful and cheerful and look bright outlook on life. They speak a goodwill message on a happy note. During the Games, I realized transplant was a wonderful treatment. American have a lot of pioneer sprit, and you like to open the way to a bright future!!! I put NorCal team photo on my PC's wallpaper! It reminds me of colorful memories!! Sorry for long note...I want to talk all night long about the Games!!"- Taka, Japanese team guest waiting for a kidney
