Two-Time Liver Transplant Survivor Wins Two Gold Medals

Jul 30, 2008 - 16:47:22 CDT.

EXPERIENCING VICTORY more than once in their lives, these organ transplant patients celebrate winning medals in the 200-yard freestyle swim at the recent 2008 U.S. Transplant Games. Fredericksburg resident Michael Walter, center, won gold, while the silver went to Zachary Brooks, right, and the bronze to Kyle Garlett, left, both of Team Southern California. n Standard-Radio Post Photo

Two-time liver transplant recipient Michael Walter of Fredericksburg won two gold medals in swimming in the U.S. Transplant Games held July 12-16 in Pittsburgh, PA.

In addition to dominating his two long-distance swimming contests, Walter also cycled a 5K time trial and a 20K road race at the national event, which boasted a field of 1,300 athletes who have all undergone some type of life-saving organ transplantation.

The mission of the U.S. Transplant Games -- which are held in alternating years between the bi-annual World Transplant Games -- is to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation and how transplantation can restore many patients to near-normal health.

Representing the South and Central Texas Transplant Team, Walter captured his first of two gold medals in this year’s competition in the 500-yard freestyle swim.

Although the local athlete had trained for months for what was originally-scheduled as a 400-meter competition, a last-minute change to the smaller Carnegie-Mellon University pool facility prompted games officials to increase the race’s distance to 500 yards.

Still, Walter touched the wall at six minutes, 56 seconds -- a full seven seconds faster than his nearest competitor, Justin Fulton, of Team Rocky Mountain, and nearly three minutes faster than Zachary Brooks, of Team Southern California, who won third.

Taking into account the swiftness of his pace, had the race been a 400-meter distance, Walter’s time would have surpassed the U.S. Transplant Games record which he set during the 2006 games in Louisville, KY.

Since organizers of the U.S. Transplant Games actually hold the longer-distanced swim contests the first day, Walter was able to wear his newly-earned gold medal as he joined teammates for that evening’s Olympic-styled opening ceremonies.

Nearly 50 teams from various states participated in the grand entry parade, which was followed by a program of comments from dignitaries, including the president of the sponsoring National Kidney Foundation, and entertainment, including the bi-annual address by television star Larry Hagman.

Hagman, who is perhaps best-known for his role as J.R. Ewing in the television series “Dallas”, is a liver transplant recipient and now speaks out about the need for more organ donations to help save the nearly 100,000 people who are currently on a transplant waiting list in the United States alone.

Walter said, “There is such a huge need for organ donations. I and the other athletes do what we do because we want the world to see how transplants can not only save lives, but also restore us to a much-improved quality of life.”

Unlike Hagman, who has admitted that he destroyed his liver by drinking, Walter was struck at the age of 29 years by a nearly rare disease (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, or “PSC”) with no known cause and no cure.

After 17 months on the waiting list while overcoming numerous illnesses and complications, Walter received his first life-saving liver transplant on Valentine’s Day 2002.

Nearly a year later, doctors discovered a blood flow problem to his donor organ and Walter survived nine subsequent surgeries, critical infections and a second liver transplant on March 18, 2003, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

The local resident endured an extensive and painful rehabilitation, working his way back to being able to complete triathlons.

“I push myself to exercise regularly n even if I don’t feel like it on a particular day n because I want to honor the gift of life that I’ve been given the best way I can,” Walter said.

“Two families who I don’t know had enough grace in their times of loss to donate their family members’ organs and I was lucky to receive not one, but two livers in two years’ time. Because of that, I have already lived six years longer than I would have otherwise. Six years may not seem much for some people, but it is a long time, really, when it means I’ve been there as a father to my son and a husband to my wife,” Walter said, adding, “Now, every day is Christmas for me.”

“By competing in the games, I hope to pay tribute to my donors and show those that are still living that, even though it can be a tough decision when there is a loss, donation of a loved one’s organs can save or improve the lives of more than 50 people,” Walter said.

“Those who would like to be an organ donor should discuss their wishes with their families as soon as possible so that the decision is made easier for survivors should the question of donation arise,” he added.

More Gold

The second gold medal Walter earned at the recent games was on the second day of competition, when he posted a 2.28.13 to win the 200-yard freestyle swim.

That time set an unprecedented U.S. Transplant Games record for that distance. (Walter also holds the record for the 200-meter swim at 2.48.84, which he set during the 2006 games.)

Coming in second was Team Southern California’s Zachary Brooks at 3.32.54, while earning bronze was Kyle Garlett, also of Team Southern California, at 4.02.42.

On Tuesday, July 15, Walter joined a large contingency of bicyclists for a 5K Time Trial and then the 20K Road Race.

In a race against time, the 37-year-old Walter placed fifth in the men’s 30-39-year-old age group with a time of 10 minutes and three seconds over the 3.2 mile course.

Taking the gold medal was 34-year-old Bryan Wentzell, of Team Maine, who crossed the finish at nine minutes, six seconds. Winning silver was Zachary Brooks, of Team Southern California (who Walter had defeated in the pool), with a time of nine minutes, eight seconds.

And, the bronze medal went to Scott St. Clair (team name unavailable), for a time of nine minutes, 16 seconds.

With just moments to rest in between, the 20K road race started in the afternoon and offered a “very hilly” course for the cyclists.

Walter finished his first group road race over a 12-plus mile route at 52 minutes, 25 seconds n putting him in eighth place in this age division and 32nd overall.

Winning the men’s 30-39 division was Brooks, at 42 minutes, 18 seconds, while Wentzell earned silver, with a time of 43 minutes, 11 seconds. Bronze went to Fulton (who Walter had also defeated in the pool), who was timed at 43 minutes, 40 seconds.

Closing out the games was a ceremony that same day in which movie and television actor, Tony Award and Daytime Emmy Award winner Ken Howard Jr. served as the master of ceremonies.

Howard, who is known for his roles in Crossing Jordan, the movie “Rambo” and other silver screen productions, was a kidney transplant recipient in 2000. He is now a key spokesman on the importance of organ donation for the National Kidney Foundation.

Winning the pair of gold medals at the Pittsburgh games brought Walter’s total medal count to seven gold, one silver and one bronze.

In his first outing at the World Transplant Games in London, Canada, in 2005, Walter won golds in the 400-meter freestyle and the 100-meter backstroke, as well as the silver in the 200-meter freestyle.

The next year, when the U.S. Transplant Games were held in Louisville, KY, Walter earned gold medals in the 400- and 200-meter freestyle swims (setting new record times for both). He also won a gold medal in discus and a bronze in cycling.

(He did not compete in the 2007 World Transplant Games held in Bangkok, Thailand.)

Walter now has his sights on the 2009 World Transplant Games to be hosted in Gold Coast, Australia.

Over the next year, he will be training intensely as he, his family and other Texas members try to raise funds to help cover traveling expenses for Team U.S.A.

Anyone who would like to support the National Kidney Foundation team’s efforts to promote organ donation awareness on a global scale may do so by mailing donations payable to “Michael or Lisa Walter” at: Go Team U.S.A., c/o Michael or Lisa Walter, 104 Frederick Road, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

Also, anyone in the area who has received an organ transplant and who would like more information about becoming involved in either the World Transplant Games or the U.S. Transplant Games can phone Walter at 997-7619 or visit the website: www.kidney.org.