Newswise — MAYWOOD, IL – Loyola Medicine liver transplant patient Geno Bianchi won three medals – a gold, a silver and a bronze – at the 2016 Donate Life Transplant Games of America in Cleveland.
Mr. Bianchi won a gold medal in doubles bowling after bowling an average of 183 in three games. In adult co-ed basketball, Mr. Bianchi played shooting guard on Illinois’ team, which won a silver medal. In volleyball, Mr. Bianchi scored the last five points for Illinois as it defeated Texas 15-10 in the decisive third game of its match for the bronze medal. Loyola heart transplant patient Donna Stout, competing in her fourth Transplant Games, won her first medal – a bronze in bocce. “It was a great feeling,” she said. “It makes you want to keep coming back.”
Mr. Bianchi said he plans to compete in the World Transplant Games next year in Malaga, Spain.
Mr. Bianchi, who lives in Elmhurst, Illinois, underwent a liver transplant at Loyola University Medical Center in 2010 after suddenly experiencing liver failure. Ms. Stout received her heart transplant at Loyola in 2007.
The Transplant Games promote awareness for organ and tissue donation and showcase transplantation as a treatment that works. Competition is open to transplant recipients who have received transplants at least nine months prior to the games and have been cleared by their doctors to participate. Living donors also can compete.
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