My name is Vivian Herren and I am a kidney transplant recipient, age 65.  I am a member of Team Alabama and a team Captain for 2008.  We are going to the U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh on July 11-16, 2008 and I need your help.  It takes $1750 for each athlete to get to the Games. 

Team Alabama is made up of 45 athletes, (approximately 1/3 are under the age of 18), 15 living donors and 15 donor families.  Our goal is to have our most "Golden" Games ever and come back with lots of  medals as well as bring the Team Cup back to Alabama.   There will be over 2,000 transplant recipient-athletes in Pittsburgh, (1,200 living donors and 1,000 donor familes)  from all 50 States competing in 40 different events in 13 different sports.  It is amazing to see these once critically and in most cases terminally ill patients healthy again and able to compete.

The US Transplant Games are an Olympic style event held every two years in a different U.S. city.  The Games are open to anyone who has had a life-saving solid organ or bone marrow transplant.  The Games started in Texas in 1982 by a group of medical proffessionals and transplant recipients as a means to raise awareness for the critial need for more organ donations.  That is still the goal, as over 99,000 people wait on an organ transplant as of this month and 17 people will die each day waiting.

I got my kidney from my son, Joe Odeneal, in September 2002.  I thought the worst day of my life was when the Dr. told me I was going to have to start dialysis in the near future.  I asked about a transplant that day.  He wrote UAB that day and I went into evualation in May and passed.  My husband, John was tested before I went home from evualation.   The next Friday, we found out that he was a match.  He went into evualation in June and we found out that he could not give me a kidney (on my birthday) due to having had a heart attack.  We found out we had to take care of him.  That same week Joe was tested and we found out the next Friday that he was my match.  My office rejoiced with me another Friday.  My thought was that God did not give you 2 matches up front with 99,000 people in the U.S. waiting for organ donation.

Right after we got back from the 2006 Games I broke my leg at transplant camp for new transplants.  After 10 days, the Dr. wrapped my leg too tight and made my foot die.  I fought saving that leg for 4 months (after changing hospitals and Drs.), before I lost it at mid calf in December 2006.  It was May before I could get a prosthetic leg.  I spent the rest of the year in rehab and learning to use my new leg.  Although I have had 2 worst days of my life, something good has come of it.  Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me".  He has helped me to learn to run and even go back to square dancing.  Had it not been for Him, I would not be here today. 

I have entered Swimming, Shotput (I won the Silver in 2006), Softball Throw, Discus (the first year for it) and the 5K Walk (I plan on running some).  I'm not sure if there are any other amputees in this competition.

Even though we have corporate sponsors, we still need the help of our friends.  We are trying to raise our last bit of money to get our team to the Games and could use your help.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.  However, if you're more comfortable sending a check, make it to:  National Kidney Foundation of Alabama and mail to me at:

Vivian Herren, 16331 Remlap Drive, Remlap, AL  35133.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!