To take you back: after the '96 Games in Salt Lake City, I had returned back to the Hospital of the University of PA where I had received my heart transplant back in late '94. I had appeared in full Team Philadelphia uniform to share the excitement of the games with those waiting in beds and on life support - trying to give them the vision of a future when they too might be attending themselves. We had laughed as I demonstrated (even by standing up on a chair to illustrate) my almost falling into the pool from the slanted starting block in the swimming event in front of the crowds (and embarrassed family). A number of them responded saying they would be there in '98 with me next time.

Now return to the present: Can you imagine my emotions as I looked down to the section below in those stands Saturday night and saw a whole row of those patients (and their beautiful wives and children) from 4 different local transplant centers? Each had become close friends over the past two years, had received their new hearts (and in Sara's case, also a right lung), struggled back from the bedridden patients I had found in those hospitals to vibrant atheletes (some much better than others, of course) now enjoying the very excitement I had tried to convey back two years ago. Anthony, the young muscle builder with the medal hanging around his neck (admiring wife and kids next to him); Sara, veteran of the grueling bicycle race that only two people were able to complete - she came in 2nd so no medal because too few competed, but what a winner; Hal who had discovered my book before he had to enter the hospital and his long wait to get that heart; Ingrid and Kristen, those lovely sisters who received their hearts just months apart from each other and have done so much to help promote the success of transplantation story; Joe, the local coach (and his beautiful family); Miriam (SWEET16) who is now a grandmother with her 16 year old heart helping out everywhere at the Games - and so many more I am missing.

The emotions flowed out in tears of pride as I looked down at so many friends who were here - and they waved together - to me up there in the stands looking down over "my new family" - what a memory. Hope you all can "feel it." with me through this sharing....