I'm writing from Houston, Texas (free computer in the hotel lobby!). Today is the last of the 4 event-filled days of the Transplant Games. The basketball and volleyball finals were this morning (with my "Team Liberty" winning the bronze medal), and we will have the gala closing celebration tonight before passing the torch to Cleveland, Ohio for the next Games in 2016. I don't have the final statistics, but more than 2,400 people registered, and I would guess that about 200 are living donors. I'll get the final numbers later. It has been so nice getting together with other living donors, including a number of non-directed donors, and it is such a delight to see the recipients running, playing, swimming and enjoying life. There was even a 25-yard "dash" for the transplant recipients under 5 years of age, which brought tears of joy to many as the medals were awarded.
I finished the 5k race along with hundreds of others (despite the Houston heat and humidity) and yesterday won the Gold Medal in the old-fogies division of the 1,500 meter race. Events ranged from shot-put to ballroom dancing. Wonderful days.
I put in the recommendation that space be made at the next Games ceremonies to recognize the sufferings and sacrifices of the living donors who have had complications and problems, as this year there was, I think, too much attention only to the success stories.
Best wishes to all.
Fr. Pat