Photo: Heart transplant patient, Brian Gilliam, heads up Team Texas at this year's Transplant Games of America in Grand Rapids, MI
Newswise — Born with a heart defect and diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004, Brian Gilliam was told he would need a heart transplant to stay alive. He was against the idea.
“I felt I had lived a good life and I didn’t want to take the organ away from a younger person who needed it,” Gilliam said. “After talking it over with my family, I changed my mind.”
Since that time he has been an advocate for transplant; encouraging patients, promoting organ donation and living life to the fullest. In 2010, Gilliam took part in the National Kidney Foundation Transplant Games as a member of the golf team. He found the experience inspiring and rewarding. He was set to take part in this year’s games, but last November, the games were abruptly canceled.
“I was devastated for myself and the rest of the team,” Gilliam said. “It meant so much to all of us to take part in the games that the cancellation was like a punch in the gut.”
Then a group from Grand Rapids, MI decided to host the games. More than 1,000 athletes will descend on Grand Valley State University July 28-31 to take part in 17 different sporting events including biking, track and field and golf.
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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