Wendy: 'Back in Cali, but my heart's still in Pitt with you...'

From Wendy Lau, posted at 3 a.m. PT after returning from the Games to her home in California:

Okay, so I'm home safe and sound now, but here's the blog I wrote right before I left... love to everyone still at the Games! I had an amazing time!

So here I am in the hotel room that has been my home for the last two and a half days. I just finished packing, and I'm sitting here with Dominiak as I type out this blog. I can't believe Sunday came so quickly! It's been a whirlwind of activities, and my body would LOVE LOVE LOVE some Starbuck's right now to keep it going!

That being said, being at the Transplant Games has been one of the most amazing experiences in my life - and I've done my fair share of living, so that's saying quite a bit! Most of the highlights of my weekend relate to meeting many of the athletes and talking to them about their experiences and what brought them to this year's Transplant Games. It is inspirational to hear their stories of courage and perseverance, and it is a constant reminder to appreciate life in all of its multi-layered facets.

I had the pleasure of working at the swimming events both days (my friend Joey Dykstra would be proud - he's a lifetime swimmer and is now the women's swimming and dive coach at the University of North Texas!), and getting to know some of the participants.



During Saturday's events, a number of the youngest transplant recipients competed, and it seemed especially poignant to see such dramatic scars on such young bodies. Despite what each child must have gone through to get to today's games - waiting, doctor's visits, stays at the hospital, and eventual surgery and recovery - it made my heart glad to see each kid behaving just like... a kid. How amazing is it to know that they are able to have a childhood through the grace and generosity of a living donor or donor family's gift? It made me laugh to see one young swimmer with "Eat My Bubbles" written on his back, and it made my eyes tear up to see another swimmer with "Thank you, Donor Family" written on his back.

I commiserated with the young athletes who just DIDN'T want to get in the pool, and cheered on the ones who jumped in, water wings and all. On the other end of the spectrum, we had swimmers all the way up in their 70s, poised on the starting blocks and raring to go. Imagine what a phenomenal place this world would be if we all dared to do what we didn't think was possible? Not only are some of these competitors grandmothers and grandfathers, they are also transplant recipients. So I guess any excuses I might have for not going to the gym just aren't going to cut it now, are they???

(To be continued... more from Wendy in a later blog, so look for it!)