BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR

These tributes will ONLY be posted on the U.S. Transplant Games website. (Donor families and family/friends of living donors will also have an opportunity to share a tribute for the Souvenir Program during the online registration process.)

Testimonials

"As a living donor, I had the opportunity to run next to my daughter Emily in the 5K. My left kidney finished ahead of my right kidney!"
Norm Biondi, Living Donor – Team Maryland
(Kidney Recipient was his daughter Emily. Emily has won gold and silver medals at the World Games in Thailand this past summer and also participated in the 2006 Games in Louisville.)

"Experiencing the 2006 Games as a living donor helped reinforce my belief of how important all donations can be. Watching Emily compete in the 2006 US Games and the 2007 World Games has filled my heart with pride."

Norm Biondi, Living Donor – Team Maryland
(Kidney, Recipient was his daughter Emily. Emily has gold and silver medals at the World Games in Thailand this past summer and also participated in the 2006 Games in Louisville.)

"The transplant games were amazing. I met many new and wonderful people, that I hopefully stay friends with forever. The experience was one I will never forget. My transplant has been the best thing to ever happen in my life."

James Watson, Double Lung Recipient

"My experience as a volunteer at the 2006 Transplant Games has had such a positive impact on my life! The energy, love and support that was shown by all the athletes, families, staff and volunteers is something that I will never forget, and I look forward to being involved in this event for years to come!"

Stacie Ryan, Volunteer

As a donor and recipient family member, I became more aware of the importance of the transplant experience, when I attended the games for my second time in Louisville. My Mother received a liver transplant in 1994 and I had been a recipient of donor bone a few years, ago. My husband, Jim, had been killed as a pedestrian in 1996, three months after we were married. He was able to donate organs and tissue.

Jim was our local city tennis champion, had won many golf tournaments and having been a classmate with Michael Jordan at Carolina, we both knew the skills needed to compete in athletic events. When Team North Carolina was announced as the winner of the Trophy Cup, I felt such overwhelming joy knowing how much that would have meant to my husband! I was so proud our athletes had taken their gifts and used them to the best of their abilities! It was very healing for me to see the joy that comes from difficult moments, as well as knowing the gratitude recipients share from their gifts of life!

I am especially grateful for the opportunity NKF gives to donor and recipient families. The games and relationships I have formed, while attending, have offered me great support! I am eager to return, hoping to continue my path toward healing.

Jan Frye Hill, Donor Family Liaison - Team North Carolina

Fun

Vote for your favorite Games poster!
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Pittsburgh is home to the World’s first:

Big Mac (1947)
Pull-tab on cans (1962)
Commercial Television Station (1920)
Ferris Wheel (1893)
Gas Station (1913)
Banana Split (1904)
Simultaneous heart, kidney and lung transplant (1989)
Polio Vaccine (1954)
Baseball Stadium (1909) and World Series (1903)
Bingo Game (early 1920s)

Pittsburgh Fun Facts:

The fountain at Point State Park, right at the tip of the golden triangle in downtown Pittsburgh, is fed by a glacial formation and sprays 6,000 gallons per minute.

The Carnegie Museum of Art opened in 1895 as the world's first museum of modern art.

Pittsburgh is second only to Venice, Italy, for number of bridges in a city. Allegheny County has more than 1,700 bridges, 720 within city limits, and 15 major bridges crossing downtown Pittsburgh alone.

Mister Rogers' real neighborhood was Oakland, home to WQED (the first public television in the country) and the "Neighborhood of Make Believe."

Pittsburgh lost the "h" in its spelling in 1891, but after 20 years of protest, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names relented and the "h" was restored.

With eight major theaters in Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District, the region has more theaters in a concentrated area than any city outside of New York

Movies Made in Pittsburgh:

The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
Dogma (1999)
Kingpin (1996)
Groundhog Day (1993)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Flashdance (1983)
The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh (1979)

Famous Food:

Primanti Sandwich
Clark Bar
Heinz Ketchup
Isaly's Chipped Ham – one of Pittsburgh's most famous foods!
Klondike Bars

Famous People from Pittsburgh:

Andy Warhol
Perry Como
Billy Eckstine
Donnie Iris
Joe Montana
Arnold Palmer
Dan Marino
Rob Marshall
George Romero
Jimmy Stewart
Jeff Goldblum
Shirley Jones
Michael Keaton
Gene Kelly
David Selznick
Sharon Stone
Christina Aguilera

For these facts and more about Pittsburgh, please visit the following sites:

Pittsburgh.about.com
www.visitpittsburgh.com

Featured Event

March 4^th, 2008

2008 NKF U.S. Transplant Games Registration is Open!

Secure your place in the 2008 NKF U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh, PA from July 11th to July 16th. Because the once steel-city has transformed into the home of one of the best transplant medical community in the world, the 2008 NKF U.S. Games will prove to be the best yet!

News

February 20^th, 2008

Norwich man to participate in Transplant Games
Michael Luongo was never much of an athlete before his kidney transplant five years ago today. More »

World Transplant Games Federation visit Belfast to inspect facilities
Belfast will know in August if it has been successful in securing the 2011 World Transplant Games. Sports Minister Edwin Poots and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey made a joint pitch today when members of the World Transplant Games Federation [WTGF] visited the city to inspect facilities. More »

February 11^th, 2008

Impact Of Donor Organ Allocation System Discussed By Mayo Clinic Proceedings Contributors
Liver transplant is a life saving treatment option for people with end-stage liver disease. Unfortunately, the need for donor livers far exceeds the supply. Each year only about one-third of people who need a donor liver will receive one, and some patients die while waiting.
More »

January 14^th, 2008

Man to donate kidney to co-worker in Ohio.
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University of Portland men's cross country and track coach to donate kidney in a paired living donor exchange in Seattle.
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Congregant to give kidney to her pastor in Florida.
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January 7^th, 2008

Family celebrates transplant anniversaries
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Daughter of organ donor befriends heart recipient
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A precious gift of life
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January 6^th, 2008

Transplant patients are older and living longer
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Ex-NFL star stumps here for organ donation
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Event promotes organ and tissue donation
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January 3^rd, 2008

Couple recovering after kidney transplant
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'Transplant' invigorates mission
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New Year means new life for transplant patients
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Former transplant patient adapts to adult life
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Disparities: Obesity and the Odds of a Kidney Transplant
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Transplant candidate to wed at hospital
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Partnership aims to promote organ donation
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December 20^th, 2007

Organ Donation Brings Smile To Victim's Family
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New organ donors sought throughout community
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The Gift of Life
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For transplant pioneer, a bounty of family life
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November 8^th, 2007

One gift, many blessings: Organ donor's family meets transplant recipients whose lives were saved.
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October 17^th, 2007

HHS Recognizes Hospitals With Highest Organ Donation Rates
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October 9^th, 2007

Donating Organs Can Transform Lives
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Act of heart results in new kidney
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One local mom is on a mission to help people make the difficult decision about organ donation.
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Dad hoping to donate liver to save daughter's life.
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October 1^st, 2007

Cyclist rides in honor of ECU student who was organ donor
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September 4^th, 2007

Paired donation story. NKF cited.
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State senator donates kidney to her sister.
more »

Woman donates part of liver to fellow employee.
more »

August 20^th, 2007

Boss donates kidney to assistant.
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Mom donates kidney to son’s best friend.
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Teen receives new liver, small intestine, stomach and pancreas.
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August 14^th, 2007

Kidney transplant recipient was on way to kidney check-up when he experienced the Minneapolis bridge collapse.
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After One Kidney Was Incompatible, Eager Donor Found Recipient and Spurred More Transplants
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July 27^th, 2007

City of Pittsburgh to Host 2008 U.S. Transplant Games Presented by The National Kidney Foundation
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August 15, 2006

Athletes Return Victorious From the National Kidney Foundation’s 2006 U.S. Transplant Games
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NKF Programs

People Like Us

"People Like Us" is a growing movement to empower, educate and enable people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), transplant recipients, donors and family members to become effective advocates on issues related to their health. “People Like Us” includes the diverse perspectives and wealth of expertise provided by members of the NKF’s three long established constituent councils: Patient and Family Council, Donor Family Council, and transAction Council.

For more information, please visit the People Like Us website.

Kidney Walks

Walk the Kidney Walk Way

Twenty million people have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million are at risk. The National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Kidney Walk presents an occasion for dialysis patients, organ transplant recipients, donor families, living donors, the medical communities, and the general public to celebrate LIFE and support the NKF’s mission.

The NKF's Kidney Walks are designed to help people understand the need for early detection of kidney disease. In addition to raising funds for research and help for patients and their families, the Kidney Walk is a great way to bring the community together!

For more information or to find a walk near you, please visit the Kidney Walk website.

Kidney Car

Kidney Cars Program, the easy way to donate your car, van, truck, or boat. By donating your vehicle, you are helping to fund public education, patient and community services, research, professional education and organ donation programs of the National Kidney Foundation.

For more information and to donate your car please visit the Kidney Cars website.

NKF Golf Classic

The National Kidney Foundation Golf Classic is the nation’s premier amateur golf event for charity. Each year thousands of golfers from across the country participate - for the exciting competition, valuable gifts, and the chance to win great prizes - all to benefit a worthy cause.

For more information or to find a Golf Classic near you, please visit the Golf Classic website.

KEEP

Kidney Early Evaluation Program

KEEP is a free kidney health screening program designed to raise awareness about kidney disease among high risk individuals and provide free testing and educational information, so that kidney disease and its complications can be prevented or delayed.

For more information or to find a health screening near you, please visit the KEEP website.