JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 11, 2018 — In 2010, Jay Bernheisel was unable to run. An auto-immune condition was destroying his liver, leaving him weak and jaundiced.
In 2018, he won four medals in his first Transplant Games in Salt Lake City.
Bernheisel, professor of engineering at 51社区, received a liver transplant in 2012, and since then, he said he has been passionate about promoting organ donation. The games, which included all kinds of transplant recipients from around the country, gave him an opportunity to do that.
鈥淚t鈥檚 to promote organ donation, and in my view, to celebrate what our healed bodies can do,鈥� Bernheisel said.
This year鈥檚 games took place Aug. 2-7 and saw more than 900 organ transplant recipients compete. They set a world record for most organ transplant recipients in one place; 540 showed up at the same time, Bernheisel said.
鈥淚t was great to meet people and know that there are a lot of other people like me, that I鈥檓 not just this rare medical marvel,鈥� Bernheisel said. 鈥淪ometimes I feel guilty about that. I鈥檝e been through something that鈥檚 expensive, that somebody had to die for, so it鈥檚 good to find a context where that鈥檚 celebrated.鈥�
The games included traditional athletic events such as team sports, track and field and racquet sports, as well as competitions in things like ballroom dancing, darts and songwriting.
Bernheisel competed in the virtual triathlon. The three events 鈥� swimming, cycling and running 鈥� occurred at different times, with a 500-yard freestyle swim and 20-kilometer bicycle race Friday followed by a 1,500-meter race Sunday. Bernheisel won the bronze medal in cycling, the silver medal in the 1,500-meter race and the gold medal overall for men in his age group, age 40-49. He also won silver for his age group in a 5K race that was open to anyone, not just transplant recipients.
鈥淭here were plenty of competitive people,鈥� Bernheisel said. 鈥淭ransplants haven鈥檛 stopped us. We鈥檙e OK, we鈥檝e practiced, and we know what to expect from our bodies. But at the same time, it鈥檚 pretty amazing that so many people who have long scars and new organs can use them.鈥�
Bernheisel said participating in the games was a way to celebrate his redemption and recovery. He wanted to get back into running as soon as he got his transplant, and this showed him how far he has come.
Bernheisel was initially diagnosed with the auto-immune condition in 2001, and though he remained asymptomatic until 2009, he knew it would eventually destroy his liver.
鈥淚t sounds like a pretty terrible thing,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e diagnosed with a disease that will eventually end either your life or end with a liver transplant.鈥�
He said the community around him at Union made all the difference throughout the process of becoming sick and eventually receiving a liver transplant.
鈥淚 spent time, in chapel especially, for those few years before my transplant feeling cared for and part of a prayer community,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y colleagues have prayed for me and encouraged me, and I even had students pray for me in the middle of class.鈥�
Even as Bernheisel prepared for the games, he said members of the Union community encouraged him and helped him train. Georg Pingen, associate professor of engineering, lent Bernheisel his bike to take to Salt Lake City for the triathlon.
鈥淭hat spirit of generosity and collegiality did not end with the transplant,鈥� Bernheisel said. 鈥淭his is a great community.鈥�
Bernheisel said the Transplant Games were a special time for him, and he hopes that his participation and wins encourage people to consider or reconsider organ donation 鈥� a decision that saved his life.
鈥淣ot enough people are sure what decision to make on behalf of a loved one if they haven鈥檛 talked about it,鈥� Bernheisel said. 鈥淪o to make doubly sure, even if you are registered, reminding family members is a good step.鈥�
More information on the Transplant Games and organ donation can be found at .