Transplant games celebrate perseverance

While recruiting his team for this year's games, Zhao said one of the potential competitors that came to mind was Lei Yadong, one of the first heart-lung transplant recipients at the hospital.

Lei, from Anyang in Henan, was admitted to the hospital in late October 2020 due to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension caused by Eisenmenger Syndrome, a congenital heart defect that disrupts blood flow in the heart and lungs.

"When I first saw him, each breath tortured him and his life seemed desperate," said Zhao.

On top of the limited availability of suitable organs, Zhao said the heart-lung transplantation surgery itself is an extremely complex and demanding procedure.

"Its level of difficulty could be seen as the pinnacle of a pyramid compared to other transplantation procedures. The probability of success is less than 50 percent," he said.

Fortunately, Lei was paired with a match in less than three months and his operation was successful. He was discharged from the hospital around a month after his surgery.

"We are all surprised by how well he has recovered from such a high-risk surgery," said Zhao. "When I called him a couple of months ago, asking if he was willing to join the event, he agreed instantly."

Lei, 36, teamed up with transplant recipients from different regions to compete in the tug-of-war.

"I look thin, but I am actually very strong," said Lei as he proudly rolled up a sleeve to show his bicep. "I was placed in the second last position, in front of the anchor of a pretty brawny guy. It was great fun."

Lei now works full-time on a construction site as a welder.

"I took a gamble when getting on the operating table three-and-a-half years ago, and it paid off because of my conviction, the kindness of the donor and the efforts of all the medical staff at the hospital," he said.

Lei said that participating in the games shows how organ recipients can lead a full and meaningful life.

"At work, I'm often hung high in the air to weld and fix metal on bridges and high-rises," he said. "Most people might find the job intimidating, but as a transplant recipient, I am able to nail it, and this fact makes me very proud and motivates me to carry on and work harder each day."

Both Xuanxuan and Lei are among the fortunate to have been matched with a donor in a relatively short period of time. However, for many, the wait is too long.