WOW.  What Inspiration.  Every Professional Athlete, Every Athlete, Every Human Being, should have the honor of seeing these Athletes compete. 

I just returned from the 2010 NKF US Transplant Games and while I am tired, I am rejuvenated, refreshed, and more determined than ever to live this life as FULLY as I possibly can.

I am VERY PROUD to share that I won the GOLD Medal in both events I competed in: the 100m and 200m sprint.  Yes, Running   It never gets less exciting to run down a track as fast as I possibly can with the gift of new lungs that have been with me for 16 years.  To be able to represent LONGEVITY for people with both Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Transplants I could not be prouder.  I am still here and still running.......and plan to for a long, long time.  I have my obstacles like everyone else but I am determined to climb, jump, leap, run through, each and every one of them to LIVE LIFE FULLY.  We must and we can.  WE ALL CAN.  Any obstacle you face, you can make it through. 

The games have become so much more to me than sprinting and winning medals-although I LOVE THAT.  The games are about ALL the Athletes there, the donor families, the donors, athletes we have lost, etc..the list goes on....
For me, the biggest GIFT at the games is watching the kids do their events.  Especially Run.  For they run Free and Fearless, with Joy and Hope and always with a smile.  Pure beauty.  I got one of the greatest gifts ever on Sunday afternoon when i went to the track to practice.  Ben and I were just walking on the track when I noticed a pair of parents-one was holding their beautiful son and one was holding this bright yellow walker with wheels on it.  I stopped short and said to Ben "wait, I need some inspiration"  He was all ready to get me focused on practicing my start and he soon realized that was going to happen as I plopped myself down in the grass, eyes big on this couple and their boy. 

I watched from the side as they got situated in the middle of the bright red track and I now was standing.  Ben smiled and said "You're going to go do a Dottie aren't you?"  I said, "Yep, gotta."  So we walked.  As we were walking towards them I saw one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen and it will forever be in my mind every single time I compete, I fight an infection, I draw breath.  Truly.

The mom and dad, now I know them as my friends and hero's...Amanda and Steve Shelton placed this special walker that little Deven goes "in front of" (I can't see him going behind anything in life...) on the track and as they placed this special miracle boy, who was never supposed to live, on the ground with his arms strapped into this thing, he LIT UP.  He came so ALIVE.  It was like the world had 2 suns.  Really.  I will never forget it.  They graciously let me watch and then we got to talk for a long time and needless to say...we bonded.  Ben said after, "they have no idea who you are at these games" and I said, Good, I like that because I really am just one of 5,000 ATHLETES, no better no stronger, just one.

I was so inspired and could not wait for the next day...not so much for my races but for Deven's.  I ran my 100m in the am and WON.  YAY.  I thought, to myself, I represented my little Deven  (and my donors..including you Linda) well 

Fast forward to the afternoon and the best part of the day for me.  It was the 25 meter run and Deven was ready and rearing to go.  Amanda took her spot at the finish line and Steve was right behind Deven.  All the beautiful little kids lined up and the little girls went first and ran their hearts out-I cried with joy..I am such a sap!  But it was beautiful.  Next was the boys turns and there were about 5 little miracles ready to go.  Deven was in lane 2 and his little legs were itching to get started as Steve lined him up.  I was next to the referee's awaiting the gun and BANG!! They were off...the little munchkins took flight with huge smiles and tons of JOY.  Deven was doing it!!  The little boy whose parents were told he would never be able to move or show any emotion was doing BOTH in FULL FORCE!  He pushed and pushed and moved those legs down that lane with such determination.  I was, of course, cheering him on (now walking next to him in lane 1) tears in my eyes and a smile on my face and that little bugger got about half way and lifted those beautiful legs up and pushed harder! I threw my arms up with victory and the crowd also started to cheer..."DEVEN, DEVEN, DEVEN..."  I am not sure how Steve and Amanda kept their composure with Amanda holding that video camera and Steve not pushing deven but making sure he stayed in his lane, but they did-like I said, HEROES.  It was all of these things at at once that make me SO PROUD to call myself a TRANSPLANT ATHLETE.  

Deven crossed that finish line on his own with his own determined legs, new liver, and big huge heart.  He ran 25 meters and finsihed his race!  What a Champion.  He didn't ever get scared, he didn't ever cringe or cry, he just pushed forward one foot, one step at a time until he got to the finish and his momma.  I don't have to tell you what I was doing at that point...CRYIN...

I was overjoyed and felt so blessed to have been able to witness such an amazing moment.  Deven is my HERO and as i said, watch out guys....cause here he comes...there is NO stopping him now I know it and I cannot wait to see him race again and again  and again...eat your heart out guys...the REAL Athlete was in Madison.

I hope you all have a chance to get to know a Hero like Deven.  This one is my blessing.  Thank You so much Amanda and Steve for fighting so hard for your boy and then sharing him with the world (and ME) 

People, LIVE LIFE FULLY like Deven because if he CAN.... you BETTER!!

Dottie