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The gift of life: Organ recipient from Peabody heads to U.S. Transplant Games

By Kristina Bond
Correspondent
Published: June 6, 2008

When Jen Searl runs down the streets of Peabody or swims laps at the Sterling YMCA in Beverly she trains as any other elite athlete would, if not for the fact that she has experienced two life-changing medical procedures and is preparing for her second trip to the National Kidney Foundation's U.S. Transplant Games.

Searl, 28, of Peabody is a member of Team Mid-New England, a group of more than 19 athletes, all transplant recipients from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont, training to compete in the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games, to be held July 11 through 15 in Pittsburgh. This year's games will attract athletes from all 50 states to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in 12 sports.

Searl's first of two transplants was for a new kidney when she was just 13 years old.

"It was really unexpected," said Searl of the initial transplant. "I went in for a routine summer camp physical and they told me I had less than 15 percent kidney function."

After her first transplant, the side effects of some of the medications she was prescribed to reduce the risk of the new organ being rejected caused Searl to have issues walking. She was diagnosed with osteopenia, a precursor of osteoporosis.

After she turned 22, Searl had her second kidney transplant, only this time it was the first of its kind.

The transplant was a combination of a kidney transplant and bone-marrow transplant from the same donor, allowing Searl to forego many of the anti-rejection medications she had been on after her first transplant.

"I really pushed the doctors to do the (bone-marrow) procedure," Searl said.

The donor of both the kidney and bone marrow was Searl's mother, Joan Searl of Groveland, who will accompany her to the Transplant Games.

Joan Searl said her daughter's attitude throughout her experience has been the most meaningful.

"I think she's amazing," Joan Searl said. "She never lets anything stop her."

Having experienced the side effects of the medications after her first procedure, Jen Searl didn't want to risk experiencing more severe side effects that could lead to osteoporosis and cancer. She was the first in the world to have the new procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She said she has been off the anti-rejection drugs since her transplant five and a half years ago.

Each week, Jen Searl's training for the Transplant Games consists of two swimming workouts, three runs, one bike workout, two weight-training sessions and three abdominal workouts.

"I've always pushed myself to the limits," she said.

Not only does Jen Searl train for the Transplant Games, she has also participated in other athletic events and hopes to compete in more this fall.

"I'm an endurance athlete," she said. "I ran a couple of marathons in the fall, and I'm hoping to do a triathlon in September."

And Jen Searl's mother remains in her corner.

"(I want to) watch her achieve more goals that she's always wanted to achieve," Joan Searl said. "The triathlon is her next goal, and I want to see her reach her goal."

Jen Searl, who will run her third Boston Marathon in 2009, said she has always been competitive.

"In some ways I think they underestimate us," she said of transplant recipients. "I can compete in regular events too."

Two years ago, she attended the Transplant Games for the first time, in Kentucky, and raised $1,800 for the National Kidney Foundation.

During the games in Kentucky, she said, she competed in all swimming events.

"I used to swim when I was very young, from the ages of 5 to 13," said Jen Searl, who won two gold medals in the 100-meter backstroke and the 50-meter breaststroke, as well as two silver medals in the 50-meter backstroke and 100-meter medley.

She hopes to raise $2,000 for the National Kidney Foundation this year.

She'll compete in five events: She'll swim in the 50-meter breaststroke and the 50-meter backstroke; and run in a 5-kilometer race, a 1,500-meter run and a 400 x 100 relay race, with other members of the Mid-New England team.

"I'm looking forward to the relay with the other members of my team," Jen Searl said. "What's fun is that there is such a spectrum of people competing."

Jen Searl said she and the members of her team are always looking for more members.

"It's really hard to get the word out because you don't meet many other transplant recipients," she said. "I really admire people who get heart and lung surgeries. We're always looking for more people to join the team.

"I've discovered that it's really not as much about the athletes, it's more about the connection between the patients," she continued. "There's nothing else with that sort of community."

At the games two years ago, Jen Searl was selected by her team members as the "elite female athlete," allowing her to participate in the World Transplant Games, held biannually in various countries. Last year's world games were in Thailand, but Jen Searl deferred her acceptance to next year's world games, which will be held in Australia.

In addition to the athletic events, there are also events for living donors, those who have donated an organ to a transplant patient and are able to attend the event. There are also events for the families of those who have given the organs of a family member who has passed away. "Some of it is sad," she said. "It's a very emotional event."

Jen Searl hopes her trip will be a motivating and inspirational experience.

"I want to make a scrapbook and take pictures and really make a memory out of it," she said.

To donate

For Jen Searl to attend the U.S. Transplant Games in July, she needs to raise $2,000. All donations are tax deductible and go to the National Kidney Foundation of MA-NH-RI-VT. To donate, visit www.firstgiving.com/jensearl.

More information

For more information on the U.S. Transplant Games or to attend the final Games Team meeting with Team Mid-New England, call the National Kidney Foundation of MA-RI-NH-VT at 781-278-0222 or visit www.transplantgames.org.

Athletes attending the U.S. Transplant Games compete in: badminton, 3-on-3 basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, racquetball, a 5K road race, swimming, table tennis, tennis, a virtual triathlon, track and field, and volleyball.

YMCA assists

Searl said the Sterling YMCA in Beverly has been "very instrumental" to her training.

"The YMCA has a partnership with the National Kidney Foundation, and they allow three months of free membership a year for transplant recipients," she said.

Donors needed

In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont, there are more than 3,300 people waiting for organ transplants.

"The Games visually demonstrate the success of transplantation and call attention to the dramatic national organ shortage," said Andrea Savisky, manager of Team Mid-New England. "Nearly 100,000 Americans are currently on the national transplant waiting list for every single type of life-saving organ transplant. Eighteen people die each day while waiting."

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