SPORTS AND MEDICINE Gura among 9 area men in U.S. Transplant Games

The purpose of the games is to educate the public about the need for organ donors.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- No matter how tough the opponent, competing in the sports arena is a lot better than battling illnesses or injuries that render vital organs useless.
It's also a good opportunity to draw attention to the need for organ donors, said Tom Gura, 50, of Campbell.
Gura, who started golfing when he was 9, has had two kidney transplants and is one of nine area men who will compete at the U.S. Transplant Games in Minneapolis July 27-Aug. 1.
Diagnosed with kidney disease in 1986, Gura had his first transplant in June 1992. His second transplant was Jan. 29, 2003.
This year, he said, is the 50th anniversary of the first kidney transplant ever performed. That, and the success of his transplants, Gura said, are more than enough reason for him to celebrate and to do whatever he can to draw attention to the need for organ donors.
Educating public
Drawing attention to the need for organ donors and educating the public about how successful transplants improve the quality of life for recipients are the primary purposes of the games, Gura said.
"A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day on dialysis," he explained.
Other area residents who will compete in the Transplant Games are Russell Beatty and Nick Carson of Poland, Mike Binder of McDonald, Fred Girscht and Robert Mehno of Salem, Mike Pazzo of New Castle, Pa., Ed Seergae of Volant, Pa., and Carl Patrizi of Sharon, Pa.
Beatty received a heart transplant in October 1995 and will compete in the track and field events.
Carson had a kidney transplant in April 2003 and will compete in swimming and cycling events.
Others
Binder received a heart transplant in June 1992, and will compete in basketball, golf, volleyball and track and field events.
Girscht received a kidney-pancreas transplant in March 2001 and will participate in team and individual golf competitions.
Mehno received a kidney transplant in 1987 and will compete in team golf and track and field events. He won a silver medal in the 1990 U.S. Transplant Games and a gold medal in 1989 at the World Transplant Games in Singapore.
Pazzo had a lung transplant in April 2001. Seergae had a heart transplant. Both men will compete in the golfing events.
Patrizi received a kidney-pancreas transplant in 2001 and will compete in racquetball.
"These recipients are a powerful, living example of the success of organ donation and transplantation," said Debbie May-Johnson, executive director of LifeBanc, a nonprofit organ-procurement organization serving northeast Ohio. LifeBanc also helps organize Team Ohio participants for the Transplant Games.
35 on Ohio team
Thirty-five transplant recipients comprise Team Ohio, May-Johnson added; nearly half of them are from northeast Ohio.
Fifty-one athletes, men and women, from throughout western Pennsylvania comprise Team Pittsburgh. "The youngest participant on Team Pittsburgh is 6, the oldest is 75," said Shelley Zomak, assistant manager.
Nationwide, some 85,000 people are waiting for transplants including 1,300 from northeast Ohio.
For more information, call LifeBanc at 1 (888) 752-LIFE (5433) or log on to www.lifebanc.org.
kubik@vindy.com