Patient Stories

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Hailey Steimel

April 18, 2016
Hailey has turned her medical illness into a very positive experience. Hailey's transplant has given her a second chance at life and the ability to follow her dream of helping others. She is currently enrolled in community college and is leaning toward a career in medical social work.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Kevin Slifka

April 18, 2016
Kevin wants people to know that organ donation is an opportunity to give another person a higher quality of life. In Kevin's case, he feels physically and emotionally healthier than he did before his donation. For Kevin, he finds the reward in being able to watch his organ recipient accomplish great things — like participating in the Transplant Games!

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Beckham Scadlock

April 18, 2016
Beckham Scadlock is a heart recipient and a transplant patient with University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Beckham participated in the Transplant Games' bowling and swimming events, as well as in a variety of track and field events such as the long jump, softball throw, and the youth 50m run.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Mary Beth Murray

April 18, 2016
On Jan. 3, 2013, Mary Beth underwent surgery and successfully helped her friend in need. This year, she and Eric participated in the 2016 Transplant Games, which was held June 10-15 in Cleveland, Ohio. They competed together in the Transplant Games' donor/recipient bowling. Mary Beth also competed alone in track and field events.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Jonathan Kiser

April 18, 2016
Jonathan traveled from his hometown of Muscatine, Iowa to Cleveland, Ohio to compete in the 2016 Donate Life Transplant Games as a kidney recipient. He participated in a variety of bowling events and showed his skill at darts.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Ginger Huston

April 18, 2016
Ginger Huston is a kidney donor from Danville, Iowa. She joined athletes from across the nation demonstrating their skills and talents in track and field, darts, and cornhole.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — John Burge

April 18, 2016
From Cedar Rapids, Iowa, John Burge is a University of Iowa Organ Transplant Center kidney recipient. John competed in the 20k and 5k cycling races and enjoyed the friendly competition in the cornhole event.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Eric Burge

April 18, 2016
When Eric started having health issues, his lifelong friend, Mary Beth Murray, had a special connection with organ donation and was willing to help. This year, Eric and Mary Beth participated in the 2016 Transplant Games, held June 10-15 in Cleveland, Ohio. They look at the games as a celebration of life and an opportunity to be together with family and friends.

2016 Transplant Games Athlete — Kim Burdakin

April 18, 2016
Today, Kim spends her time actively promoting organ donation. She volunteers for the Iowa Donor Network, holds fundraisers, visits schools and community groups to speak on the topic of organ donation, and encourages people to register on their driver's licenses to become organ donors. Kim wants people to know that organ donation is a positive experience.

Rising from tragedy

April 18, 2016
Late one winter Sunday morning, Bruce Brockway and his 10-year-old son Garrett began cleaning up trees and brush that littered the woodsy backyard of their Burlington home. They planned on a few hours of work thanks to a windstorm from a couple of days earlier. But in one unthinkable moment, the Brockway family’s life changed forever.

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