TRAVERSE CITY -- A pair of bronze medals represent a glimmer of the triumph Holly Werlein feels every day.
Three years ago she almost died when her liver stopped functioning; doctors never determined the cause for the failure. A transplant saved Werlein's life and now the 24-year-old returned this month from the 17th World Transplant Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
The lifelong athlete and swimmer medaled in the 50m Fly and 200m team relay and placed fourth in beach volleyball.
The trip, shared with sisters Brooke and Rachel, is a long way from her stalled -- and nearly ended -- life in 2006. Instead, Werlein spent an "amazing" week immersed in a community of transplant athletes who shared an instant bond. Even the destination fulfilled a long-time dream.
"I am so blessed to be alive and to be able to go to Australia and compete -- it was the experience of a lifetime," said Werlein, a Gaylord native who last summer competed in the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. "And it shows how important organ donation is, it saved all our lives."
Despite the common background of a major illness, the athletic competition was fierce during the events. Like Werlein, many athletes involved in the World Transplant Games train hard, more to prove to themselves they can do it than to beat fellow competitors. Though that is fun, too.
"All that I'd been through, I had to cry, I can't even believe I could do this," she added of the games. "I was former female athlete of the year in high school and I'd always dreamed of going to the Olympics."
The World Transplant Games drew 2,000 athletes from 47 countries who competed in 14 events from August 22-30. Werlein was one of 84 athletes and 80 family and friends that comprised Team USA. Alternating with a winter World Transplant Games in even-numbered years, sports events at the summer games included swimming, golf, volleyball, table tennis, badminton and cycling.
Team USA Manager, Dawn Williams, noted that whether geared to a country or to the world, the games are like a big family reunion.
"It's definitely a celebration of life, whether you gave it or received it," said Williams, of the National Kidney Foundation.
Three transplant recipients from Michigan made the journey, said Kathy Homan of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, who served as co-manager for Team Michigan. At all levels, Transplant Games also welcome donor families and living donors -- along with the athletes, everyone is united for a special cause.
"You've got a really great group coming together," Homan said. "The whole purpose is to promote organ donations: the success of it and the need for it."
Raising public awareness about these issues has become a passionate cause for Werlein, who previously gave little thought to checking a box on the back of her driver's license. Few people consider organ donation until tragedy or illness strike. To Werlein and her family, the donation was truly a gift of life -- one she does not take for granted.
"Every day, I thank my donor," Werlein said.
A personal chef, Werlein also serves as Web administrator for TransplantCafe.com, which she calls Facebook for the transplant community. She hopes her career can one day encompass sharing both her story and about the importance of organ donation.
"My dream is to travel the world and speak about organ donation and how important it is," Werlein said.
Holly Werlein may be contacted for speaking at events or about Transplant Games via e-mail at hwerlein@hotmail.com or write her in care of 610 Acorn Road, Gaylord, Mich. 49735. For more information about Transplant Games in the United States, see www.transplantgames.org. For more information on the World Transplant Games, see www.wtgf.org.
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