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Take
These Wings
Dusk was falling this chilly
evening as transplant recipient athletes from thirteen different
countries around the globe, their friends and families, transplantation
staff and other supporters gathered just outside the Cliff Lodge
at Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah for the opening of the 1999 Winter
World Transplant Games.
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Overhead, an American flag was softly flapping in the breeze. Trees,
bare of leaves, lighted from below, appeared ghostly against the white
of the snow on the mountainside.
A panel of the (USA) National Donor Family Quilt, handmade by the
families of organ and tissue donors, stood behind the podium, serving
as a poignant and colorful backdrop. And all around us were the Wasatch
mountains, on which the beneficiaries of organ donation would soon
demonstrate their health and vigor, celebrating the miracle of transplantation. |
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Just prior to the start of the ceremony, 105 children from Orchard
Elementary School, in Orem, Utah, filed in and climbed onto risers
four rows deep, on either side of the podium. Cheers erupted from
the crowd as each nation's team appeared, waving their flag and smiling
broadly; the biggest cheer was saved for the largest and the last
team to enter: Team USA. |
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The ceremony was emceed by Colleen Horan, the Director of the Games.
Ms. Horan spoke warmly and eloquently, welcoming everyone to Salt
Lake City for this celebration of courage and determination. The transplant
recipients before us were a tribute to the donor families whose generosity
during a time of personal crisis saved their lives. |
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Representing the World Transplant Games Federation was Gary Green,
the United States Councillor to the WTGF. Mr. Green read a letter
from Mr. Maurice Slapak, the Director of the Federation, in which
he expressed his wish that "the sun and snow will be in perfect
proportion" for the competition.
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Kim Peterson, representing Snowbird, welcomed everyone to the resort
and wished the competitors well, saying that it was an honor to have
the Games at Snowbird. |
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The Games exist for the purpose of demonstrating that transplant recipients
can and do lead healthy, active lives, and thus to bring public attention
to the need for organ donation. Ms. Horan reminded us of the tens of thousands
of people around the world currently awaiting organ transplants, and of
the many who die every day because an organ does not come soon enough.
In the state of Utah alone, 200 people are awaiting transplants; in the
U.S., ten to twelve die each day while waiting.
Michael Tucker, a board member of the National Kidney Foundation
of Utah, who is also competing in the Games, welcomed everyone to
his home state and prompted a loud reaction from the crowd when he
asked if there was anyone from his hometown in the crowd: Orem, Utah.
All the children from the elementary school, and their parents, cheered
loudly. The children then sang a patriotic song about America, with
great gusto. |
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As the sky darkened, the mountains changed in appearance: the rocky
outcrops nearly disappeared, and the fields of snow became the only
parts of the mountain that were visible; tall pine trees stood majestically,
seen in silouhette against the snow. Stars began to appear in the
cloudless night sky, and the air grew cooler. |
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Colleen Horan introduced Kally Heslop, a native of Utah.
Ten years ago, Ms. Heslop became critically ill after the birth of
her fourth child, and desperately needed a heart transplant. Just
as her time was running out and she began to say her goodbyes, a heart
was donated by the family of a woman who was killed in an auto accident.
"Since her miracle, Kally has not wasted a minute of her 'second
chance'" at life, working tirelessly in the field of transplantation
and donation. |
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Ms. Heslop expressed her gratitude to donor families, saying that
"we thank you from the bottom of our hearts... and livers...
and pancreases..." an athlete called out "Lungs!" She
called Jason Ivers, several members of whose family became donors
when they were killed in an accident involving a train. Mr. Ivers,
representing all donor families for this event, accepted a bouquet
of roses, as well as the gratitude of all transplant recipients present. |
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Ms. Heslop then explained how it was that the children from Orchard Elementary
School came to be a part of the opening ceremonies. A year ago when she
heard them sing "Take These Wings" in the Salt Lake City symphony
hall, she said she found herself sobbing. At that moment vowed that she
would arrange for them to sing this song for a transplantation-related
event.
As the children softly began singing, the crowd listened intently. Although
the air was chilly, our hearts were warmed by the sentiments expressed.
(Listen to the children
of Orchard Elementary as they sing these words.)
"I found a sparrow lying on the ground
Her life, I knew, would soon be at an end
I knelt before her as she made a sound
And listened as she said, 'My friend...
'Take these wings and learn to fly
To the highest mountain in the sky
Take these eyes and learn to see
All the things so dear to me. |
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Take this song and learn to sing
Fill your hearts with love and joy
Take this song and set it free
Let it fly beyond the sea.'
I found another sparrow on the sand
A tiny bird whose life had just begun
I picked him up and held him in my hand
I smiled at him and said, 'My son...
Take these wings and learn to fly...' "
Colleen Horan then formally presented each team, telling
how many members and what kind of transplant each athlete had had.
Team Denmark was especially festive, pumping their placard above their
heads and cheering in Danish. The crowd cheered and applauded each
team, but especially the large teams from Germany, Great Britain,
and the U.S. The representative from Mauritius received special recognition
for having travelled the farthest to be here today. |
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Brian Rothermel and Diane Wittwer, the outstanding male and female
athletes of the 1998 U.S. Winter Games, and the oldest and youngest
athletes of the 1999 Games, Karl-Heinz Hinkreksen from Switzerland
and Veikko Koski of Finland led all the competitors in the traditional
recitation of the athletes' oath. |
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With the raising of the official flag, Colleen Horan declared the
1999 Winter World Transplant Games OFFICIALLY OPEN!
Following the ceremony, everyone enjoyed a cozy reception and dinner
inside the Cliff Lodge. It was a friendly setting in which to celebrate
the opening of the Games.
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