South Philly Review

The success rate of transplant surgery has readily improved, but demand far exceeds supply.

More than 100,700 are on the organ transplant waiting list with more added each month, John D. Green, Gift of Life’s director of community relations, said.

George Arroyo was one of the lucky ones.

“I am very blessed that I only waited one year for a kidney,” the resident of 11th and Shunk streets said of his transplant. “The normal wait is three to five years.”

Arroyo along with the Nelsons, a local family of an organ donor, were part of the 350-member Team Philly consisting of 109 organ recipients, 13 living donors and 76 donor family members that traveled to Madison, Wis. July 30 to August 4 for the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games. Every other summer, besides bringing awareness to the successes of transplantation, the event provides transplant recipients and living donors a chance to compete in a variety of sporting events while donor family members make up the cheering section.

Arroyo, 47, was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1991. It progressed slowly until he had to endure dialysis for one year prior to learning his doctors had found a match. He received a new kidney in 2000 at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Arroyo continued to work after his diagnosis and attended dialysis treatments following his work shift. They sometimes lasted until 8:30 or 9 p.m.

“Dialysis to me was horrendous,” he said. “For that one year, I lost over 50 pounds. I was feeling really ill. I thought that was the end of my life and along came a lifesaving organ that saved my life.”

At last week’s games, Arroyo competed in volleyball, bowling and softball throw.

“It’s just an awesome experience,” he said of his third time competing in the games. “I never won a medal, but I already consider myself a winner. I received a kidney. That’s my medal.”

At the last games in ’08, 500 individuals represented Team Philly, which consisted of those from eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware and was the largest contingent at the Pittsburgh games and won 150 medals. This year, the team was second in size behind Team Wisconsin and walked away with 27 gold, 35 silver and 30 bronze medals.

Prior to departing for the Badger State, athletes practiced for their designated events that consisted of 14 sports including 5K road race, badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, racquetball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

It was great to see the athletes enjoying life following their live-saving transplant, Green said.

“I think what’s amazing about the games is that all the athletes are recent transplants who are there because someone said yes to donation and these are people who, two years ago, were on that list,” he said. “If they weren’t going to get an organ, they were going to die.…The games really showcase the success of transplantation.”

Similar to the Summer Olympics, more than 40 teams from across the country walk in together during an opening ceremonies, with living donors and donor families being honored.

“It was probably conservatively a 15-minute standing ovation when the donor families were coming in,” Green said. “It’s a very emotional opening ceremonies.”

Medals were presented throughout the games and the event is capped off with extinguishing the torch.

“It’s very touching to see all the donor families that are there and they’re very happy for us,” Arroyo said. “They did a very good thing at such a tragic time.”