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FRIDAY JUNE 28: LIVING DONOR RECOGNITION CEREMONY
STORY: Colleen Horan
PHOTOGRAPHY: Colleen Horan
were formally recognized for sharing the gift of life. The NKF's CEO, John Davis, remarked about
the importance of this occasion as it signified a new tradition for the U.S. Transplant Games.
NKF spokesperson and transplant recipient, Sean Elliot, thanked his brother Noel for his generosity,
love and support which has allowed him to return to the game. He then thanked the over 200 living
donors in attendance for their selfless gift. "People who have made it possible for us to continue
on life's journey and who have given us the opportunity to stop and appreciate life, how do we even
begin to thank someone for providing such an incredible gift?...You are our heroes for today and for always."
Living donation became a viable substitution for cadaver donation nearly five decades ago when the
first successful kidney transplant took place between
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two 23-year-old twins. Dr. Francis L. Delmonico,
Director of Renal Transplantation at Massachusetts General Hospital explained that this was the procedure
that set the precedent for future research and success. He went on to mention that in 2001, the number
of living donors actually surpassed that of the number of non-living donors and that despite that fact,
"The need for organ transplantation far exceeds the supply of donor organs. But surely, it's clear that
living donors are playing an even more critical role in ensuring the future success of transplantation."
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The Kagens, a living donor family, described how very easy it is to make such a decision. Karen's son
Gabe, a toddler, was gravely ill and was in need of a live-saving liver transplant. It did not take more
then a second for Karen to consider giving her son the gift of life, again. Smiling proudly, Mom, Dad and
son are shinning examples of just how natural this decision can be.
The ceremony concluded with the NKF's John Davis unveiling of a pin commemorating the bond between donors
and recipients. "And so we begin another tradition at the Games, the introduction of a pin that will symbolize
the act of giving and act of receiving. Something to be displayed and worn proudly by both recipient and donor."
Immediately proceeding, the names of all living donors in attendance we called aloud and they, along with their
recipient took part in affixing each others' half of the living donor commemorative pin.
The ceremony was a poignant, yet celebratory reminder of just how much the human spirit is capable of and
at a time when the world is beginning to take note of these acts of kindness and generosity, living donors
and all donor families alike, as Sean Elliot eloquently stated, truly are "our heroes of today".
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