Kidney transplant recipient keeps it moving at Transplant Games of America

Every two years, thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on waiting lists, caregivers, transplant professionals and supporters gather for the Transplant Games of America.

And it’s where you’ll find nurse practitioner and athlete Nancy Kaminski, the fundraising chair for Team Alleghenies Transplant.

Kaminski and her niece Shanti both have polycystic kidney disease. Because of PKD, an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop in the kidneys, they both have received a kidney transplant.

Nancy has attended three Transplant Games of America and competed in many events from cornhole and trivia to pickleball.

During this week-long event, 40 state teams and several international teams compete in 20 athletic and recreational competitions. In addition to these medaling events, there are over 60 special events. The games celebrate the lives of organ donors and recipients and draw attention to the importance of organ, tissue and cornea donation.

“The Transplant Games allow us to pay it forward and to promote the idea that recipients can lead a healthy life after transplant,” Nancy said.

Learn more about Team Alleghenies Transplant, and becoming a donor and giving hope to the thousands of people on transplant waiting lists.