Sir, - Please allow me to express my feelings on a recent visit to Sydney, where I attended the twelfth World Transplant Olympic Games as a supporter. Not many people know that Ireland was represented there by a team of 11 in events ranging from ten-pin bowling to very competitive track and field competitions.
The opening ceremony featured a parade of 1,200 transplant recipients ranging in age from three to 74 years. Although the Australians have a very low rate of organ donation, they certainly know how to honour their donor families. There was such an input from the donor families in all aspects of the games. They made speeches at the opening and closing ceremonies and were present at all the competitions and social events. It should not be forgotten that the games would never have taken place without the donor families making the ultimate selfless act of donating the organs of their loved ones. This must surely be reward indeed to realise that through their actions all of the 1,200 competitions would most likely be dead or at the very least not have a good quality of life, perhaps being attached to a machine 3 times a week for hours as with kidney patients.
I think I can best explain the spirit of the Games with an experience in the swimming event. The winner of one of the finals finished in 2 minutes 20 seconds, but the one who had us on our feet and in tears of emotion was the girl who finished in six minutes. The donor families presented her with a special courage award. It is difficult to explain this on paper but it is a feeling which will stay with me for a very long time.
I want to take this opportunity to thank, once again, the family of the donor of the organ for my loved one. You really have made a difference.
I also want to tell other transplant recipients to go out there and live your new life to the full. Experience the feeling of your fellow transplantees. The next games are in two years' time in Tillberg in the Netherlands. You don't have to win, you just have to compete and raise awareness for organ donation and transplantation.
The only criterion for taking part is that you have had an organ or bone marrow transplant. The spirit of good will and camaraderie is evident while raising sponsorship in order to go to the games. All those engaged in this aspect of the games would speak of the great fun involved.
Lastly, I would like to reiterate the sentiments of Dr Maurice Slapak, FRCS, President of the World Transplant Games Federation, when he opened the games in Sydney with a message to prospective donors to carry donor cards: "Do not bury it. Do not burn it - Give it away" - Yours, etc., Ursula Somerville,
Brookvale Downs, Dublin 14.