Montco Residents Win Medals At 2018 Transplant Games of America

Thirty-two Montgomery County residents who either gave or received organ transplants participated in Donate Life's 2018 Transplant Games of America in early August, and some of them earned medals during the games.

The 32 people from Montco were among the more than 200 total attendees from the Philadelphia region, which includes Delaware, South Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania that represented our region when Team Philadelphia traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Some of the Montgomery County residents who participated include:

• Faith Carlin, Willow Grove. She received a kidney and pancreas transplant in 1992. She won a gold medal in the softball throw.
• Jean DelMuto, Hatfield. She received a kidney transplant in 2006. She won a gold medal in track & field.
• Charles Devlin, Roslyn. He received a heart and double lung transplant in 2003. He competed in the 5K, bowling, cornhole and cycling.
• Layla Lynn Hickey, North Wales. She received a heart transplant in 2017. She won a gold and silver medal in doubles bowling.
• Richard Kupniewski, Lansdale. He received a heart transplant in 2015. He won gold in Texas Hold ‘em and bronze in tennis doubles.
• Jim Melwert, Collegeville. He donated a kidney to his aunt in 2006. He won two gold medals in swimming, six silvers in swimming, a silver in the 1500 meter, and a bronze each in the 400 meter, 200 meter, 100 meter and long jump.
• Michael Meshkov, Villanova. He received a kidney transplant in 1992. He competed in basketball and volleyball.
• Joseph Radvansky, Lansdale. He received a heart transplant in 1996. He won two bronze medals in tennis doubles.
• Jen and Trevin Ray, Conshohocken. Jennifer received a heart transplant in 2003 and Ray received a pancreas transplant in 2008. The couple met at the World Transplant Games in 2013, fell and love, and got married. Jen won a gold medal in cornhole; Trevin won gold in team golf and silver in golf singles.
• Janine Reed, East Norriton. Janine received a double lung transplant in 2011. She competed in bowling and tennis.Robert Supplee received a kidney transplant in 2005. He earned a gold medal in discus and in shotput.

The other 20 Montgomery County residents attended as donor families in honor of their loved ones, or as supporters, friends and family of the team.

Members of Team Philadelphia dominated at the Games, bringing home an impressive 150 medals – 69 gold, 43 silver and 38 bronze.

The Transplant Games were held August 2 through Aug. 7, celebrating the success of organ donation.

Athletes competed in the Olympic-style competition, participating in sports such as track and field, swimming, basketball and more.

"It is so inspiring to see hundreds of people from our area and thousands from across the country come together to celebrate the success of organ donation and transplantation," said Howard M. Nathan, President & CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program. "There are so many incredible stories, and every one of those stories started the same way: with someone who selflessly said yes to donation. I am so grateful to our community for its outstanding record of generosity in donation, and so proud of the many athletes who participated this year."

The Transplant Games is a biennial celebration of life, featuring athletes who are living donors; organ transplant recipients; and bone marrow, corneal and tissue transplant recipients.

For more information or to register, they can Visit donors1.org. to learn more about organ donation and to register as an organ donor.

Gift of Life Donor Program is the non-profit, federally-designated organ procurement organization, serving 11.2 million people in this region.

Pictured above is Collegeville's Jim Melwert diving into the pool during the 2018 Transplant Games of America

Images via Transplant Games of America