Thursday, July 17, 2008
2010 Games in Madison!
It was announced at the closing ceremonies on Tuesday, July 15th that the 2010 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games will be held in Madison, WI, July 30 - August 4th.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
John Wyant Mon 7/14/08 and Tues 7/15/08
I woke up very sore but excited for the track events. I competed in shot put, discus, and softball throw. Discus was very hard for me as it is a new event for me, but I was very proud to be able to throw it 65 feet.
Shotput was more comfortable for me as it is very similar to the softball throw just alot heavier (16 pounds) My best throw was 23 feet.
The most fun about these events was there was alot of hanging around in between throws and it helped all the men from all the different teams bond. We all discussed our transplants, tips on how to throw and funny stories. I had the blessing of hanging out with 2 of the guys from team Oklahoma who beat us the night before in basketball. We had some good laughs about the game. They are great guys
and they had alot of respect for the fight team Wisconsin gave them the night before. In a way I am happy we lost to them. They told me that they lost in the next game to team Illinois and team Illinois was very violent and injured alot of Team Oklahoma's members. Im not into the violent thing and just happy we didn't have to deal with that negativity.
My final event for the day was the softball throw. This has always been my favorite singles event. I threw the ball for either 185 feet or 158 feet. This is where dyslexia is a good thing. So I will go with 185 feet until someone tells me otherwise ;)
Last night was also our team dinner. It was a great time for everyone to mingle and just wind down. The food was awesome and so is my new team!
Tuesday AM Volley ball.
My last event! All the events were fun and I am happy with everything I chose to compete in. But I will use this picture to show how I felt after all the physical activity of these games when I woke up this am ( a picture is worth a thousand words!)
Volleyball was just plain fun! It was the final event for all of us and we tried hard but didnt take it super seriously. We lost the first set and won the second. After we were done we played Team Wisconsin fans vs Team Wisconsin. That was fun. Dan and Kate really enjoyed getting a chance to play us. Coach Tom making the fan game haooen shows the spirit and fun that Team Wisconsin is all about.
Here is the only "medal round" that matters to me!
Bring on the closing ceremonies!!
Shotput was more comfortable for me as it is very similar to the softball throw just alot heavier (16 pounds) My best throw was 23 feet.
The most fun about these events was there was alot of hanging around in between throws and it helped all the men from all the different teams bond. We all discussed our transplants, tips on how to throw and funny stories. I had the blessing of hanging out with 2 of the guys from team Oklahoma who beat us the night before in basketball. We had some good laughs about the game. They are great guys
and they had alot of respect for the fight team Wisconsin gave them the night before. In a way I am happy we lost to them. They told me that they lost in the next game to team Illinois and team Illinois was very violent and injured alot of Team Oklahoma's members. Im not into the violent thing and just happy we didn't have to deal with that negativity.
My final event for the day was the softball throw. This has always been my favorite singles event. I threw the ball for either 185 feet or 158 feet. This is where dyslexia is a good thing. So I will go with 185 feet until someone tells me otherwise ;)
Last night was also our team dinner. It was a great time for everyone to mingle and just wind down. The food was awesome and so is my new team!
Tuesday AM Volley ball.
My last event! All the events were fun and I am happy with everything I chose to compete in. But I will use this picture to show how I felt after all the physical activity of these games when I woke up this am ( a picture is worth a thousand words!)
Volleyball was just plain fun! It was the final event for all of us and we tried hard but didnt take it super seriously. We lost the first set and won the second. After we were done we played Team Wisconsin fans vs Team Wisconsin. That was fun. Dan and Kate really enjoyed getting a chance to play us. Coach Tom making the fan game haooen shows the spirit and fun that Team Wisconsin is all about.
Here is the only "medal round" that matters to me!
Bring on the closing ceremonies!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
John Wyant Sun 7/13/08
I'm sitting here reflecting on the day as I wonder why my body feels like it has been hit by a train. Let's see we did the 5k, we did track practice, we watched Bob compete in swimming and I played 2 basketball games. The last one being the most physically tiring thing I have done since my transplant.... Yeah I guess that would do it. But you know what!? It was fuuuuuuun! :)
The 5k was amazing. It was a giant love in with no hard core competition if you didn’t want to live that world. Just a fun brisk walk with Kate and Dan and a good chance to get to talk to fellow team members and new friends. (Mark your calendars! Next games I am running it!) The one thing I can say that team Wisconsin has that NO ONE has is we ARE family. And nothing showed that more than walking among my team mates in that race. We all look out for each other and want to know each other. Being a new team member it is a special feeling and I refuse to lose the friends I have gained this week. It was awesome to see team Wisconsin win 6 medals. I was especially proud of Jessica. I feel like she is my little buddy. Finishing it in 22 min what a machine! And I got to do a new first in my life. I got to have ziti and meatballs for breakfast. At first I thought it would be gross but I ended up taking 2 helpings (don't tell anyone :) )
We then went back to the hotel and took a break in the hot tub and then headed off to track practice.
I always thought a discus was something in your back that you could easily injure. So let’s say I was a little nervous that leading into today I still did not know what one even looked like. I was lucky enough that when I got to the track a heart recipient named Mark was willing to show me the ropes (after I showed proper proof that I was not in his age group and offered no threat to him in winning a medal). After seeing me throw and smack the thing into the fence a few times I think he realizes the credential check was a little much ;). But after a few tries I got it down to a point where I think I will do ok tomorrow. And the best part I made a friend in the process! This is why the games are special to me.
After practice we stopped by the pool and watched Bob compete in his swimming event. He was a little nervous before the race and looked a little pale, but nothing was going to stop him from doing his thing. I admire his no quit attitude and his kind demeanor. Bob was strong out of the gate and shot hard across the pool to the other side. Then he must have reached a difficulty because he needed to stop. But he refused to be pulled from the water. He made his own way over to the ladder and slapped coach Tom's hand as he tried to help him out. Bob is hardcore and I love him for that!
Next on our agenda was my number one reason for being here "BASKETBALL!" Basketball has been a huge part of my life. When I was sick with kidney disease...Whenever I played was the only time I felt no pain. I believe basketball kept my will and my body alive through out my hard times. I never was healthy enough to play organized ball. I only played pick up street ball games. Until Coach Tom's pointers at this years’ games I have never been officially taught the game. I feel with just the simple quick tips that Coach Tom gave me at the games that I now am a true player.
The first game was just flat out fun. The team we played (Team Pittsburgh) was new to the game of basketball so it ended up being more of a fun time than a hardcore game. In the fun our team really started to gel. We won 59 to 20. The other team had a small boy that couldn't have been more than a few years older than my son Dan. Any time he made a basket you would think he just won the suberbowl or something! He would run around and pound the floor and point up towards God. It was a hoot.
In the rest time between games I got to hang out with my buddy and life saver/transplant coordinator Crystal Peterson.
I also had the best time getting to sit with Dennis and his entire family. I feel very close to Dennis. I thought he had the cutest family, and Dan really enjoyed playing with his son.
The mellow times came to a quick end when we faced our next opponent team Oklahoma. I mean these guys were big boys and they could play. They had two women that were tall and quick and could also play. The game was tooth and nail from the whistle on. I was so proud of our girls! They were matched up against women and out played them in my mind. It was completely physically tiring trying to body these guys to get rebounds. They were immovable. These guys wore me out in a way I have never been before. I had nothing left in my tank before halftime. I still have no clue on how I finished that game, and in my mind I left it all out there and did not quit on a single play. But no matter how good these guys played NO ONE on our team stopped fighting with all the spirit and power they had. One of the guys on Oklahoma got hot with threes and could not miss for a while. In my mind that was the difference maker and why we ended up losing by six. But my question is this... If we gelled as a team and as friends and fought until we had nothing left, and had fun in the process, did we really lose? HELL NO. We have a good unit now and the girls will get nothing but better. All I need to say is watch out COED 2010! When we lost Coach Tom kissed each of us on the top of our heads and asked if we had fun. Have a mentioned yet that I love Coach Tom?
The 5k was amazing. It was a giant love in with no hard core competition if you didn’t want to live that world. Just a fun brisk walk with Kate and Dan and a good chance to get to talk to fellow team members and new friends. (Mark your calendars! Next games I am running it!) The one thing I can say that team Wisconsin has that NO ONE has is we ARE family. And nothing showed that more than walking among my team mates in that race. We all look out for each other and want to know each other. Being a new team member it is a special feeling and I refuse to lose the friends I have gained this week. It was awesome to see team Wisconsin win 6 medals. I was especially proud of Jessica. I feel like she is my little buddy. Finishing it in 22 min what a machine! And I got to do a new first in my life. I got to have ziti and meatballs for breakfast. At first I thought it would be gross but I ended up taking 2 helpings (don't tell anyone :) )
We then went back to the hotel and took a break in the hot tub and then headed off to track practice.
I always thought a discus was something in your back that you could easily injure. So let’s say I was a little nervous that leading into today I still did not know what one even looked like. I was lucky enough that when I got to the track a heart recipient named Mark was willing to show me the ropes (after I showed proper proof that I was not in his age group and offered no threat to him in winning a medal). After seeing me throw and smack the thing into the fence a few times I think he realizes the credential check was a little much ;). But after a few tries I got it down to a point where I think I will do ok tomorrow. And the best part I made a friend in the process! This is why the games are special to me.
After practice we stopped by the pool and watched Bob compete in his swimming event. He was a little nervous before the race and looked a little pale, but nothing was going to stop him from doing his thing. I admire his no quit attitude and his kind demeanor. Bob was strong out of the gate and shot hard across the pool to the other side. Then he must have reached a difficulty because he needed to stop. But he refused to be pulled from the water. He made his own way over to the ladder and slapped coach Tom's hand as he tried to help him out. Bob is hardcore and I love him for that!
Next on our agenda was my number one reason for being here "BASKETBALL!" Basketball has been a huge part of my life. When I was sick with kidney disease...Whenever I played was the only time I felt no pain. I believe basketball kept my will and my body alive through out my hard times. I never was healthy enough to play organized ball. I only played pick up street ball games. Until Coach Tom's pointers at this years’ games I have never been officially taught the game. I feel with just the simple quick tips that Coach Tom gave me at the games that I now am a true player.
The first game was just flat out fun. The team we played (Team Pittsburgh) was new to the game of basketball so it ended up being more of a fun time than a hardcore game. In the fun our team really started to gel. We won 59 to 20. The other team had a small boy that couldn't have been more than a few years older than my son Dan. Any time he made a basket you would think he just won the suberbowl or something! He would run around and pound the floor and point up towards God. It was a hoot.
In the rest time between games I got to hang out with my buddy and life saver/transplant coordinator Crystal Peterson.
I also had the best time getting to sit with Dennis and his entire family. I feel very close to Dennis. I thought he had the cutest family, and Dan really enjoyed playing with his son.
The mellow times came to a quick end when we faced our next opponent team Oklahoma. I mean these guys were big boys and they could play. They had two women that were tall and quick and could also play. The game was tooth and nail from the whistle on. I was so proud of our girls! They were matched up against women and out played them in my mind. It was completely physically tiring trying to body these guys to get rebounds. They were immovable. These guys wore me out in a way I have never been before. I had nothing left in my tank before halftime. I still have no clue on how I finished that game, and in my mind I left it all out there and did not quit on a single play. But no matter how good these guys played NO ONE on our team stopped fighting with all the spirit and power they had. One of the guys on Oklahoma got hot with threes and could not miss for a while. In my mind that was the difference maker and why we ended up losing by six. But my question is this... If we gelled as a team and as friends and fought until we had nothing left, and had fun in the process, did we really lose? HELL NO. We have a good unit now and the girls will get nothing but better. All I need to say is watch out COED 2010! When we lost Coach Tom kissed each of us on the top of our heads and asked if we had fun. Have a mentioned yet that I love Coach Tom?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
John Wyant Sat 7/12/08
It has been 4 years since I played and I had forgotten what an emotional roller coaster opening day is. It started out as a lot of fun and laughs. We went to the convention center to sign up for the 5k so we could run as a family. I had the luck of getting to meet Larry Hagman. I have wanted to meet him since the 2004 games because he makes me giggle with his little speach about our scars being a badge of honor as he starts to rip off his shirt.
After a few minutes chatting with Larry we continued to head down the convention center towards to kiosk to sign up for the 5k. When through the crowd I saw one of my old team members from when I lived in Massachusetts Jim Kane. He was on my basketball team and we had become close at the 2004 games. I headed his way to suprise him and I had a good angle as it looked like he was sitting dowm. I snuck up and gave him a hug from behind and he gave me a big bear hug back as we were glad to see each other. As I looked down he wasnt sitting in a normal chair but instead a wheel chair and his right leg had been amputated. He had some difficulties in circulation and ended up losing his leg so he could survive. I have never felt such shock in my life. My memory sees him as a hard nosed basketball player then next thing he is stuck to a wheel chair. He had the same fighting spirit he always had and expects his prosthetic leg in a couple weeks and fully plans to play in 2 years. It just states to me again the fact that we have to suck up each minute here to hug and love as many people as possible and to not let a day slip away. We never know when that next curve ball can hit any of us transplant recipient or not.
Basketball practice was just pure fun! We got a great work out, the team seemed to really gel and coach Tom is a calm and knowledgable leader. The practice made me very excited to play tomorrow night!
After practice we went back showered and changed then had a small get together to celebrate coach Tom's birthday. We had some good laughs then headed off to opening ceremonies.
The people that they had come up to speak really tugged at my heart. The lady who has had 15 tries at a new liver and still does not have one really got me emotional. If my situation didn't work out perfect the 1st time the chances are large that I may have never gotten married or met Kate or had the joy of being a father to Dan. We need to all push with everything we have to get organ donation recognized and becomes commonplace so no one has to go through the heart ache of several missed oportunities. and the only way to get there is for successful recients and families to show how well it works and what an amazing thing that giving a gift of life is. Leading by example is the only way. I pray when it is my turn that I can pay back and help some other family feel the gift of life that I feel every day.
Watching the donor famlies come out was just as emotional. These families are so much braver than I ever thought I was. I just had to lay on a table and let the doctors perform their craft and now take my medicine as I have been trained. These families gave the ultimate sacrifice during the ultimate time of grief and still love their loved ones who have past enough to come here and keep their spirit alive by both the gift of giving and as being walking testimonials. Watching some of the people I now call friends walking down the aisle crying for their loved ones made me so proud for their courage that I will never forget the feeling in my spirit and realize I can never muster enough thank you's for the courage and love they have for others and their loved ones.
Well I am going to keep it short as I have o get up at 6am so I can do the 5k with my family and team mates!
Good night and God Bless.
-John
After a few minutes chatting with Larry we continued to head down the convention center towards to kiosk to sign up for the 5k. When through the crowd I saw one of my old team members from when I lived in Massachusetts Jim Kane. He was on my basketball team and we had become close at the 2004 games. I headed his way to suprise him and I had a good angle as it looked like he was sitting dowm. I snuck up and gave him a hug from behind and he gave me a big bear hug back as we were glad to see each other. As I looked down he wasnt sitting in a normal chair but instead a wheel chair and his right leg had been amputated. He had some difficulties in circulation and ended up losing his leg so he could survive. I have never felt such shock in my life. My memory sees him as a hard nosed basketball player then next thing he is stuck to a wheel chair. He had the same fighting spirit he always had and expects his prosthetic leg in a couple weeks and fully plans to play in 2 years. It just states to me again the fact that we have to suck up each minute here to hug and love as many people as possible and to not let a day slip away. We never know when that next curve ball can hit any of us transplant recipient or not.
Basketball practice was just pure fun! We got a great work out, the team seemed to really gel and coach Tom is a calm and knowledgable leader. The practice made me very excited to play tomorrow night!
After practice we went back showered and changed then had a small get together to celebrate coach Tom's birthday. We had some good laughs then headed off to opening ceremonies.
The people that they had come up to speak really tugged at my heart. The lady who has had 15 tries at a new liver and still does not have one really got me emotional. If my situation didn't work out perfect the 1st time the chances are large that I may have never gotten married or met Kate or had the joy of being a father to Dan. We need to all push with everything we have to get organ donation recognized and becomes commonplace so no one has to go through the heart ache of several missed oportunities. and the only way to get there is for successful recients and families to show how well it works and what an amazing thing that giving a gift of life is. Leading by example is the only way. I pray when it is my turn that I can pay back and help some other family feel the gift of life that I feel every day.
Watching the donor famlies come out was just as emotional. These families are so much braver than I ever thought I was. I just had to lay on a table and let the doctors perform their craft and now take my medicine as I have been trained. These families gave the ultimate sacrifice during the ultimate time of grief and still love their loved ones who have past enough to come here and keep their spirit alive by both the gift of giving and as being walking testimonials. Watching some of the people I now call friends walking down the aisle crying for their loved ones made me so proud for their courage that I will never forget the feeling in my spirit and realize I can never muster enough thank you's for the courage and love they have for others and their loved ones.
Well I am going to keep it short as I have o get up at 6am so I can do the 5k with my family and team mates!
Good night and God Bless.
-John
John Wyant Fri 7/11/08
Today was my first day in Pittsburgh PA to celebrate the 2008 Transplant games! We got in late last night (thurs after an 11 hour drive from Fond Du Lac WI) and woke up pretty well rested to enjoy the day. I am very excited to be here. This is my second games. (I competed for team MA/NH/VT in 2004) I went the experience alone and other than the people I met and the events I was in I remember it as a lonely time. This week also happens to be the 6 year anniversary of receiving my new life (I got my new kidney from my mom at UW Madison on July 17th 2002) This year I have the joy of sharing the experience with Kate (my wife of 2 years) and Daniel (my 8 year old son) (I have been his father for 3 years now). Neither of them were with me for my Chronic Renal Failure or transplant surgery. I am excited for them to be inspired by other recipients and families and for them to experience "my transplant world" a little more first hand.
In the lobby heading down to breakfast we met the nicest most inspiring lady (I met so many people today that I can't currently place her name.) but here is her picture.
She is a kidney transplant recipient from Colorado of 4 years who unfortunately has also been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. She was the toughest fighter I have ever met. She is here to compete in swimming and refuses to let the cancer bring her down even a notch. Her intensity to live was awe inspiring, and when I say she was tough it went beyond the intensity in her eyes, the swagger in her step, and the inspirational way she spoke. Let's just say I wouldn't try to take her on in arm wrestling! I pray for her and that someday I could have half the guts that she does.
At 3pm we went and registered. We got to meet the cool people on our team and pose for photos. Check in was enjoyable just as it was in 2004. You get to see loads of people and start to get that feeling that you really are an athlete. All the volunteers and everyone involved go out of there way to make us feel special!
She is a kidney transplant recipient from Colorado of 4 years who unfortunately has also been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. She was the toughest fighter I have ever met. She is here to compete in swimming and refuses to let the cancer bring her down even a notch. Her intensity to live was awe inspiring, and when I say she was tough it went beyond the intensity in her eyes, the swagger in her step, and the inspirational way she spoke. Let's just say I wouldn't try to take her on in arm wrestling! I pray for her and that someday I could have half the guts that she does.After we ate, Dan Kate and I went off to see the city. We met alot of really cool people from all different states as we walked around town. Dan had loads of fun trading pins with them. We went up "the incline", saw the fountains at "The point" (where the 2 rivers meet), and had lunch.
At 3pm we went and registered. We got to meet the cool people on our team and pose for photos. Check in was enjoyable just as it was in 2004. You get to see loads of people and start to get that feeling that you really are an athlete. All the volunteers and everyone involved go out of there way to make us feel special!
After we "striked a pose" we went to the Vendor booths and to grab our team bags. My 8 year old was in "free stuff heaven"! He grabbed so many bobbles that I think Kate is still trying to figure out a way to condense it all so we could possibly even fit in the car with the "stuff" for the ride home. It was a little embarassing but "boys will be boys" and if he had fun then that is all that matters in the end to me!
We then went back to the hotel to change and were off again for the picnic at the ball park and to see the Pirates take on the Cardinals! The picnic was awesome! The food was great and it was a great chance to meet our team mates. I am really thankful that we were given the picnic and the game as a gift as I feel it really brought everyone together and broke the ice between my family and some great team Wissonsin members. We got to sit and watch the game with Darren, Tia and approximately 8 other really cool "new" friends (yes.. I forgot names again...I will get better at remembering as we settle in a little more :) ) . Other than someone from the upper deck pelting us with chunks of hotdogs and my boy spilling his bubbles on the nice lady next to him we had a great time!
We ended our awesome first day with a really cool fireworks show put on by the ball park!
We had a great first day! I feel very blessed to be with such a great team and to experience such an awesome city as Pittsburgh! Now I am looking forward to tomorrow and opening ceremonies!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Arriving Now!
Team Members have been arriving in Pittsburgh all day. It's almost time for registration and Team Picture, which will be followed by the picnic and Pirates game at PNC Park.
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