Does anyone know about or heard about "The World Transplant Games". No well sit back and let me tell you. For over 20 years the World Transplant Games Federation has been staging international sporting events for transplant athletes in order to demonstrate the physical success of transplant surgery and to raise awareness of the need to increase organ donation.
The Summer World Transplant Games take place every two years where over 1500 athletes representing some 69 countries compete at an extraordinarily high level. Many however just come to enjoy taking part at their own pace and welcome the opportunity to meet with other transplant recipients in an atmosphere of fun and friendship.
The Winter World Transplant Games take place in the intervening years – the next event will be held in Rovaniemi, Finland from 25th to 30th March 2008.
Why am I telling you this you asked. My mum has just come back from Thailand where the 16th World Transplant Games were held. Mum has also been to France and Canada for the Transplant Games. My mum is a remarkable woman she has worked with Transplant patients for over 25 years. For a majority of those years she was in charge of the ward. As retirement age approached she stepped down from running the ward to running the Transplant Outpatient department. Mum is highly respected and has the admiration of a lot of doctors at Princess Alexandra hospital. When new doctors started in the unit they were often told "If Sister Allen says do it you do it don't come asking me" many a time mum has saved a patient life by being pushy and telling doctors "something is wrong come and see this patient NOW" many times they shake their heads and say"Joan how do you do it". They soon learnt that if mum said jump they asked how high. Some poor newbies learnt the hard way from a tongue lashing from the consultant others already knew when they arrived on the ward via reputation. I remember at various times coming home from school and finding a patient or 2 in our lounge room eating dinner. Mum would bring them home as often they would not have any family around them as they often come from far away. Mum would take the kids (PA did Kidney Transplants on children before the childrens hospital took over) into town at christmas time to show them the lights drips, drains and urine bags all came to. She would bribe the children with a drive in the green beetle (VW) up the freeway if they took their anti-rejection medication. Today she runs an extremely busy clinic without the help of any other staff. She goes out to dinner with the patients on a regular basis. All I can say is god help these patients when she retires. Anyway just thought I would share this story with you as my mum is one of the most remarkable people you will every meet when it comes to nursing. i will leave you with a couple of photos from the latest games. please remember don't take your organs to heaven because heaven knows we need them down here.
The Summer World Transplant Games take place every two years where over 1500 athletes representing some 69 countries compete at an extraordinarily high level. Many however just come to enjoy taking part at their own pace and welcome the opportunity to meet with other transplant recipients in an atmosphere of fun and friendship.
The Winter World Transplant Games take place in the intervening years – the next event will be held in Rovaniemi, Finland from 25th to 30th March 2008.
Why am I telling you this you asked. My mum has just come back from Thailand where the 16th World Transplant Games were held. Mum has also been to France and Canada for the Transplant Games. My mum is a remarkable woman she has worked with Transplant patients for over 25 years. For a majority of those years she was in charge of the ward. As retirement age approached she stepped down from running the ward to running the Transplant Outpatient department. Mum is highly respected and has the admiration of a lot of doctors at Princess Alexandra hospital. When new doctors started in the unit they were often told "If Sister Allen says do it you do it don't come asking me" many a time mum has saved a patient life by being pushy and telling doctors "something is wrong come and see this patient NOW" many times they shake their heads and say"Joan how do you do it". They soon learnt that if mum said jump they asked how high. Some poor newbies learnt the hard way from a tongue lashing from the consultant others already knew when they arrived on the ward via reputation. I remember at various times coming home from school and finding a patient or 2 in our lounge room eating dinner. Mum would bring them home as often they would not have any family around them as they often come from far away. Mum would take the kids (PA did Kidney Transplants on children before the childrens hospital took over) into town at christmas time to show them the lights drips, drains and urine bags all came to. She would bribe the children with a drive in the green beetle (VW) up the freeway if they took their anti-rejection medication. Today she runs an extremely busy clinic without the help of any other staff. She goes out to dinner with the patients on a regular basis. All I can say is god help these patients when she retires. Anyway just thought I would share this story with you as my mum is one of the most remarkable people you will every meet when it comes to nursing. i will leave you with a couple of photos from the latest games. please remember don't take your organs to heaven because heaven knows we need them down here.
Here are a couple of links you might be interested in having a look at
8 comments:
Wow Jen thanks for sharing that. Your mum is amazing woman, so inspirational, the world need more people like her.
Take care,
Tam
Jen, you must be so proud of her, she is pretty amazing
xxx
niss
Thanks for sharing your mum's life with us. People like her are a rare breed. Congratulatins Jen on having a wonderful mum.
Jen, what an amazing woman your mum is! And you have obviously taken after her, both with your choice of profession and your caring nature!
Hi Jen,
Found you blog, finally. Your mum is a very amazing woman I can see where you get your caring personality from.
Cheers,
Lauren x
Your Mum certainly is a remarkable woman - thanks for sharing.
I didn't know that there even was a Transplant Games - good luck to them!
what an inspiration Jen. I used to work with a girl who had a heart transplant. Se used to compete in the games each year...on the track and in swimming I think. Such an affirming event!
What a beautiful person your mum is. Thanks for sharing this with us its great to hear about the wonderful caring people in our hospital system :)positive for a change instead of the negative!
Take Care
Brenda
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