Double Transplant Recipient To Compete In Transplant Games With Donor

PROVO, UT – June 6, 2016 – Gerald Wayman, a 52-year-old father of eight, grandfather of three and teacher at Manti High School, is competing in this year’s Donate Life Transplant Games with his younger brother, and first kidney donor, Lynn Wayman. The Transplant Games are an Olympic-type event held every two years to increase awareness of the importance of organ, cornea, bone marrow and tissue donations. This year’s games will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, June 10 – 15.

After his kidneys failed in 2006, Wayman went under eight months of dialysis at Revere Health and his first kidney transplant. Six years later, Wayman’s body rejected the kidney and another transplant was required. In January of 2013, Wayman’s cousin and donor, Nick Anderson, unexpectedly passed away from a brain aneurism, making Wayman’s second transplant possible. As a registered donor, Anderson was able to save the lives of 12 people, including Wayman.

“Over the past 10 years, I have spent hundreds of hours in the Revere Health Provo clinic doing dialysis and visiting doctors, surgeons and specialists,” Wayman said. “I am alive and healthy today thanks to my brother, my cousin and the wonderful people at Revere Health.”

The Wayman brothers first went to the Transplant Games in 2014, and together, they won 25 medals in swimming and basketball. This year, they plan to tackle swimming again as they were both on their high school swim team. They also plan to compete in several track and field events.

During his treatment, Wayman has been under the care of many doctors at Revere Health including Dr. Terry Hammond.

“It’s been great to see Gerald achieve this level of success and physical fitness, which so few of us are able to achieve,” said Dr. Hammond. “Gerald can be a powerful example to other patients who suffer from kidney disease.”

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At both the 2012 and 2014 Transplant Games, the Utah team won the Team Cup award for collectively winning the most medals during the event. The Wayman brothers hope to uphold the title again this year.

The Transplant Games sees competitors of all ages ranging from children under five to adults over 70. Competitors participate in a variety of sports including swimming, basketball, track and field and volleyball. The Transplant Games also features events for ballroom dancing, corn hole, poker and trivia challenges.

While aiming to involve the entire transplant community including donors, recipients, families and healthcare providers, the Transplant Games maintains an overall goal to increase the number of individuals registering as donor candidates across the country.