Canadian Transplant Games - Organization

Micheline Cyr Asselin
CEO
The Home of transplant patients of Québec and president and CEO Of the Lina Cyr Foundation

«As the CEO of the Home of transplant patients of Québec and president of the Lina Cyr Foundation, I believe that our engagement in the 5th Canadian Transplant Games is as inevitable as it is natural.

For the past few years, Québec has earned an unprecedented level of notoriety, as this widespread event, to which we are very proud to associate with, will testify. You can be sure that we will contribute to the success of the event as actively as we usually do, should the capital get to host the World Transplant Games as well.

As a national accommodations community agency, a first in North America, the Home of transplant patients of Québec is especially sensitized to the actual experience of transplant patients, coming from every region in the province.

We experience everyday all phases of waiting, discouragement and hope from each transplant patient. We also witness their great joy when they receive the awaited-for organ and the feats from many of them who are given a second life.

The hundreds of athletes, coming from Canada and the United States, are a visible proof of the limitless impacts created by a simple signature, on the back of the health insurance card, for an organ donation.

A lot of effort must still be employed to sensitize the whole of the population to the reality of transplant patients and the importance of making these valuable organ donations that give life back. We are certain that these 5th Canadian Transplant Games are an essential initiative toward that goal.

Finally, I wish to stress that every athlete deserves all of our admiration. Their involvement alone – in these 5th Canadian Transplant Games – already gives them the status of “winner”.»

Jeff Labrie
Le gardien de nuit
News Item Journalist

Born in 1980 with a rather rare malformation, I knew that, one day, my life would inevitably depend upon a heart transplant. However, I really didn’t know my abilities to think that my health condition would keep me from leading an active life. Though having physical limits, I was still able to practice a few sports in a friendly manner. Nevertheless, the constraints brought on by the disease quietly led me to a radio hosting career combining my two favourite subjects: Radio and the emergency world. In 2007, what I had known for years literally came knocking at my door. My health was starting to get much worse so that I had to stop all activities and be put on the heart transplant list, in January of 2009. On October 2009, my condition was such that I was given an artificial heart, in case I didn’t make it to the time of the transplant.

When the organisation committee for the Canadian Transplant Games came to me to become the spokesperson for the region of Québec, I was thrilled right away. The life of over 450 people depends upon organ donations: this achievement gives me the greatest joy. 450 athletes celebrating life by doing sports, when you stop to think about it, makes you realize that it is the best “Thank you!” the recipients could tell the person who gave them a second breath of life.

Although the Transplant Games are of course not on par with the Olympics, those footrace, badminton, golf, softball and even high jump competitions will be contested with zeal and ardour by uncommon athletes.

I hope to make you want to share this love and appreciation of life by coming to cheer on the participants in the various competitions.

I also hope to show you the importance of signing your organ donation card and telling your relations about your will.

One day, I too wish to participate in these Games as a contestant.

Welcome in Québec for the 5th Canadian Transplant Games.

I wish for happy Games for all participants!»

JEAN I. TCHERVENKOV, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
McGill University

Dr. Jean Tchervenkov is an associate professor of surgery at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. After a fellowship at the University of Cincinnati with J. Wesley Alexander he returned to Montreal in 1990 to start and head the liver transplantation program which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year.

Under his leadership, the Multi-Organ Transplantation Program at McGill University was centralized at the Royal Victoria Hospital and has become the busiest multi-organ program in the province of Quebec. His main research activities include clinical outcomes in liver transplantation, particularly with immunosuppression protocols and hepatitis B and C recurrence. Other areas of research interest include expanding the donor pool in renal transplantation (use of expanded criteria donors), xenotransplantation, and antibody mediated rejection with particular interest in T and B lymphocyte interaction.

He has authored more than 120 publications in peer reviewed journals, supervised or co-supervised nearly 20 research fellows, and participated in more than 150 presentations at major meetings or invited lectures.

He is a member of numerous national and international societies including The American Society of Transplant Surgeons and The Transplantation Society.

"I have been involved in organ transplantation for the last twenty three years and was in the field during early stages of development. Over the years I have seen significant progress of the field, especially in how transplantation has brought a normal life back to very ill patients. These games exemplify this achievement."

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For the past few years, Québec has earned an unprecedented level of notoriety, as this widespread event, to which we are very proud to associate with, will testify. You can be sure that we will contribute to the success of the event as actively as we usually do, should the capital get to host the World Transplant Games as well. As a national accommodations community agency, a first in North America, the Home of transplant patients of Québec is especially sensitized to the actual experience of transplant patients, coming from every region in the province. We experience everyday all phases of waiting, discouragement and hope from each transplant patient. We also witness their great joy when they receive the awaited-for organ and the feats from many of them who are given a second life. The hundreds of athletes, coming from Canada and the United States, are a visible proof of the limitless impacts created by a simple signature, on the back of the health insurance card, for an organ donation. A lot of effort must still be employed to sensitize the whole of the population to the reality of transplant patients and the importance of making these valuable organ donations that give life back. We are certain that these 5th Canadian Transplant Games are an essential initiative toward that goal. Finally, I wish to stress that every athlete deserves all of our admiration. Their involvement alone – in these 5th Canadian Transplant Games – already gives them the status of “winner”.» Jeff Labrie Le gardien de nuit News Item Journalist Born in 1980 with a rather rare malformation, I knew that, one day, my life would inevitably depend upon a heart transplant. However, I really didn’t know my abilities to think that my health condition would keep me from leading an active life. Though having physical limits, I was still able to practice a few sports in a friendly manner. Nevertheless, the constraints brought on by the disease quietly led me to a radio hosting career combining my two favourite subjects: Radio and the emergency world. In 2007, what I had known for years literally came knocking at my door. My health was starting to get much worse so that I had to stop all activities and be put on the heart transplant list, in January of 2009. On October 2009, my condition was such that I was given an artificial heart, in case I didn’t make it to the time of the transplant. When the organisation committee for the Canadian Transplant Games came to me to become the spokesperson for the region of Québec, I was thrilled right away. The life of over 450 people depends upon organ donations: this achievement gives me the greatest joy. 450 athletes celebrating life by doing sports, when you stop to think about it, makes you realize that it is the best “Thank you!” the recipients could tell the person who gave them a second breath of life. Although the Transplant Games are of course not on par with the Olympics, those footrace, badminton, golf, softball and even high jump competitions will be contested with zeal and ardour by uncommon athletes. I hope to make you want to share this love and appreciation of life by coming to cheer on the participants in the various competitions. I also hope to show you the importance of signing your organ donation card and telling your relations about your will. One day, I too wish to participate in these Games as a contestant. Welcome in Québec for the 5th Canadian Transplant Games. I wish for happy Games for all participants!» JEAN I. TCHERVENKOV, MD, FRCSC, FACS Associate Professor of Surgery McGill University Dr. Jean Tchervenkov is an associate professor of surgery at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. After a fellowship at the University of Cincinnati with J. Wesley Alexander he returned to Montreal in 1990 to start and head the liver transplantation program which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Under his leadership, the Multi-Organ Transplantation Program at McGill University was centralized at the Royal Victoria Hospital and has become the busiest multi-organ program in the province of Quebec. His main research activities include clinical outcomes in liver transplantation, particularly with immunosuppression protocols and hepatitis B and C recurrence. Other areas of research interest include expanding the donor pool in renal transplantation (use of expanded criteria donors), xenotransplantation, and antibody mediated rejection with particular interest in T and B lymphocyte interaction. He has authored more than 120 publications in peer reviewed journals, supervised or co-supervised nearly 20 research fellows, and participated in more than 150 presentations at major meetings or invited lectures. He is a member of numerous national and international societies including The American Society of Transplant Surgeons and The Transplantation Society. "I have been involved in organ transplantation for the last twenty three years and was in the field during early stages of development. Over the years I have seen significant progress of the field, especially in how transplantation has brought a normal life back to very ill patients. These games exemplify this achievement."

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