Transplant Life Foundation

Have you explored our YouTube channel yet? Share the excitement of the Games with friends, relive memorable moments, watch exclusive interviews, and much more!

Despite every effort being made to honor life through donation, sometimes it is just not medically possible.

Willingness to give, even if donation isn’t possible, means just as much. Without the willingness to donate, there are no donors.

When a donor or their family authorized organ and tissue donation but it did not work out for reasons beyond anyone’s control, Gift of Life Michigan honors them as “Donors in Spirit.” These Donors in Spirit are remembered, recognized and thanked right along with others who were able to donate organs and/or tissues.

Learn more about Donors in Spirit through the story of one Michigan family at golm.org/blog/my-dad-is-a-donor-in-spirit.

Gift of Life Michigan Michigan Medicine Donate Life Coalition of Michigan Michigan Donor Family Council

We extend our deepest thanks to the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County for hosting the 2024 Transplant Games in the Magic City.

Our attendees had an incredible experience, enjoying various activities that offered something for everyone!

A special thank you to Mayor Randall Woodfin and County Commission President Jimmie Stephens for joining us at Opening Ceremony.

Ben Hayes was a young husband in his prime when he was suddenly hit with a pulmonary disease that nearly took his life. He was within hours of dying when a generous stranger gave Ben and his wife, Karen, a second chance at a future together.

After recovering, the couple decided to become foster parents. When they learned about a 7-year-old boy in the foster system who had just received a liver transplant, they knew they could provide the best home possible for him. One year later they adopted Mallaki.

Listen to Ben and Karen share their story and read about Mallaki’s journey to a second chance at life and family in Gift of Life Michigan’s LifeLINES, at http://golm.org/blog/mallaki-receives-the-gift-of-life-and-a-new-family

Gift of Life Michigan Michigan Medicine Donate Life Coalition of Michigan Michigan Donor Family Council

Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center is dedicated to providing outstanding care, resources and support to help patients and their families face organ and tissue transplant, as well as advanced organ failure management.

We would like to congratulate them on their incredible achievement of performing its 10,000th last year. We look forward to seeing what you do in the years to come!

Houston Methodist

Waiting for an organ transplant is something most people will never experience. Sherry Johnson experienced it twice. While waiting for her second heart transplant on Floor 7C for nearly 3 months at Michigan Medicine (and learning she also needed a kidney), Sherry gave permission to publish her photos and personal messages on Gift of Life Michigan’s blog and social channels so more people could witness the challenges of the wait.

Walk beside Sherry on her second transplant journey at golm.org/sherry.

Gift of Life Michigan Michigan Medicine Donate Life Coalition of Michigan Michigan Donor Family Council

With the 2024 Transplant Games successfully concluded, there's still time to purchase your favorite merchandise!

https://shop.finedesigns.com/midland/TGA?id=306

We look forward to seeing you all in 2026!

Thank you City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, and the Greater Birmingham CVB for sponsoring and making the 2024 Transplant Games magical in the Magic City!

Thanks to our sponsors; UAB Medicine, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Medical Properties Trust, Coca-Cola, and Children's of Alabama. More than 9,000 people gathered to raise awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation.

The Local Organizing Committee and TGA staff welcomed over 400 volunteers, dazzling participants with a spectacular Opening Ceremony, a moving Donor Tribute, and over 20 exhilarating competitions including a vigorous 5k Run/Walk. Other special events included the Quarter Century Club, which celebrated a special evening at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, recognizing those recipients who have had their transplant for 25 years or more.

Thank you to everyone who, with their attendance, furthered our mission to promote the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation!

A huge thank you to Children’s of Alabama for sponsoring the 2024 Transplant Games of America and the Youth Olympiad!

Children's of Alabama

Donor families in Michigan are taking comfort in a recently expanded program, which is a partnership between Michigan Donor Family Council, Donate Life Coalition of Michigan and Gift of Life Michigan.

Volunteers across the state create no-sew fleece blankets, wrapped and presented to newly grieving donor families along with words of condolence on a special notecard. These thoughtful gifts are a way of enveloping donor families in a warm hug from others who have walked a similar journey.

Some families choose to lay the Comfort Blanket across their loved one at the hospital or funeral home, later wrapping themselves in the soft material that once hugged their family member.

Gift of Life Michigan and its partners honor life through donation, supporting the families of those who gave the gifts of life, sight and mobility.

Gift of Life Michigan Michigan Medicine Michigan Donor Family Council Donate Life Coalition of Michigan

This July, Lung Bioengineering proudly joins the transplant community in celebrating the gift of life at The Transplant Games 2024. At Lung Bioengineering, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics, they are dedicated to maximizing the potential of every donated organ, increasing the utilization of donated lungs.

Join us in honoring the generosity of donors and their families and the hope they bring to recipients worldwide.

Learn more about our vision by visiting the link in our bio.

United Therapeutics

Thank you to Coca-Cola for sponsoring the Transplant Games of America and the 5K Walk/Run! Your support makes these incredible events possible. 🥤

Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. Coca Coco

Join us today at the film series "Gift of Life" presented by UAB Medicine

The 2:00 PM showing will hold a Q & A afterwards!

Michigan is the first state in the nation to invite residents to join the state’s organ, eye and tissue donor registry while filing their income taxes!

In its first year, the Check Your Heart Act inspired more than 13,000 people to add their names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry for the first time, and more than 170,000 more reaffirmed their decision to donate life.

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to have worked with supporters in the state legislature to push this life-saving law through.

Gift of Life Michigan Michigan Medicine Michigan Donor Family Council Donate Life Coalition of Michigan



Learn more at golm.org.org/cyh-act-growth

American Red Cross will be holding a Blood Drive in East Exhibit Hall 2!

When:
- Monday, July 8th 11:00-4:00 PM

Everyone who donates at this drive will receive a Red Cross Umbrella! ⛱

2024 Transplant Games of America

OPENING CEREMONY!

Will be live on the Transplant Life Foundation Youtube page

6:30 PM Central Time

Calling all kidney transplant recipients and their caregivers!
Join CareDx, Inc. for a FREE interactive educational workshop and ice cream sundaes!

🗓️ When: Monday, July 8, 2024, from 2-3pm

📍 Where: BJCC - Room F

Ask the Expert: Why Monitoring Matters
Learn why post-transplant testing is crucial, discover gaps in current methods, and explore the benefits of non-invasive tools like AlloSure.

Topics include:
🔍 Why monitoring matters
🔍 Gaps in current testing
🔍 What is AlloSure?
🔍 How AlloSure works
🔍 Differences from traditional labs
🔍 Understanding results
🔍 Testing frequency
🔍 Open Q&A

KultureCity is making Transplant Games of America sensory inclusive. Trained volunteers, sensory bags, and a mobile sensory room will be available for families and individuals who have sensory needs/non-visible disabilities. Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with PTSD, dementia, autism, and other similar conditions, affecting 1 in 4 individuals. A limited number of sensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones provided by Puro Sound Labs, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards, will be available for guests to use and take home at no additional cost. You can find the sensory bags and mobile sensory room in the BJCC East Exhibition hall.

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to support the transplant athletes, living donors and the donor family members participating in the 2024 Transplant Games of America!

Gift of Life honors life through donation. It is the 11th largest organ procurement organization in the nation, with the 3rd highest number of organ donors last year.

GO TEAM MICHIGAN!

In 2023 the organization helped a record 578 people become organ donors and 1,858 give the gift of tissue last year, saving hundreds of lives and healing tens of thousands more.

Learn more about Gift of Life at golm.org.

Gift of Life Michigan Michigan Medicine Michigan Donor Family Council Donate Life Coalition of Michigan

Nevada Donor Network is ecstatic to sponsor the 2024 Transplant Games of America! They are also honored to support Team Nevada competitors and are looking forward to watching them compete in the games. Share your best wishes with their Nevada Strong team by tagging them in the comments below!

Nevada Donor Network

American Society of Transplantation Calling all Pediatric Transplant Families! Will you be in Birmingham for the Transplant Games of America!?

Join us as the AST booth to get your own AST Narwhal!
All you need to do is:
1. Have a parent help you complete the form on-site
2. Draw a picture connected to donation or transplantation
3. Turn it in to an AST staff member
4. Get your free AST Narwhal!

Transplant patient Drew Ferguson reflects on life in sports medicine Drew Ferguson, whose distinguished career in sports medicine spans over 40 years, understands the pursuit of excellence in health care.

🎉The 2024 Transplant Games of America Opening Ceremony is 1 week from TODAY!🎉

Join us Saturday, July 6 as we kick-off the 2024 Games at Legacy Arena with the parade of athletes, living donor celebration, honoring of our veterans, lighting of the cauldron, and much more!

This is an event you and your family will not want to miss as the electricity and enthusiasm from the Opening Ceremony fuels attendees for the exciting line-up of competitions, workshops, programs, and special events offered throughout the week!

✨See you in the Magic City✨

Transplant Life Foundation Serving the Donation and Transplant Community is to serve all.

Since 1974, Mid-America Transplant has served as the regional organ and tissue procurement organization for eastern Missouri, southern Illinois, and northeast Arkansas, serving 4.7 million people in 84 counties. Our mission is to save lives through excellence in organ and tissue donation. As an organ and tissue recovery organization, our work happens at the intersection of death and life. We help donor families through moments of grief and loss, support transplant patients, and facilitate safe, reliable donations for transplant. Our approach is designed to save lives while supporting families, patients, and our community. Together with our partners, we are working toward a brighter future where organs and tissues are always available to those in need.

Website: https://www.midamericatransplant.org/

We’re proud to announce Thermo Fisher Scientific as a sponsor of the 2024 Transplant Games of America! Thermo Fisher is committed to raising awareness of organ donation and improving the lives of transplant patients through better diagnostics.

Come share the story of your transplant journey with them at the Transplant Life Foundation EXPO booth on Saturday, July 6 – Monday, July 8 from 12:30pm – 2:30pm.

ICYMI:

Join us for an amazing evening honoring life at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids! 🦁🐯🐻

⌚ Thursday, July 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM
📍 John Ball Zoo, 1300 W. Fulton Street, Grand Rapids MI

Explore John Ball Zoo, check out resources from our community partners and enjoy some free Dippin’ Dots on us! We'll also honor donors and recipients on the Celebration of Life Trail, an important feature you don't want to miss.

BONUS: Make a $10 (suggested) financial contribution to Gift of Life and receive a special Donate Life Night at the Zoo t-shirt!

Learn more at golm.org/zoo 👈

It has been an incredible year for the AST Transplant Community Advisory Council (TCAC) and we want YOU to join us!

Are you interested in serving on a transplant-focused committee and making an impact in your community? The TCAC is the only non-member patient-focused advisory council within the AST.

What can you expect when you join the council?
✨Monthly virtual meetings
✨Collaboration with transplant and donation providers nationwide
✨A sense of community amongst your peers
✨Impacts on transplant policy
✨Representing the patient voice

Interested in applying?
https://bit.ly/44K1btn

American Society of Transplantation

CSL is excited to be a Silver sponsor of the Transplant Games of America this year! CSL is a global biotechnology leader that develops and delivers innovative lifesaving medicines, protects public health and helps people with life-threatening medical conditions live full lives. For inspiring stories about the promise of biotechnology, visit CSL.com/Vita