Heart Transplant Recipient Travels the World as Athlete

In March 2005, Philadelphia native, Janet Dennis, faced the hardest challenge of her life.  Her health was failing and she needed a heart transplant to live.  Throughout her life, she had been healthy and active.  She walked to her job as a social worker for the Department of Human Services in Philadelphia several times per week, she swam regularly and always was on the go.

Then, one day after walking up the steps of her home, she noticed that she was out of breath and her heart was racing.  She rested and the intensity dissipated.  Then, it happened again when she got out of bed.  She knew that something was wrong and called a family member.  Her sister asked her to call 911 and wait for help to arrive.

At the hospital, they determined that she had fluid on her lungs and that her heart rate was extremely elevated.  After trying several different treatment methods, doctors decided that she would need a pacemaker to keep her heart rhythm normal.  For the next year, she went about leading a normal life where she could do most of the things that she had always done.

After a healthy year, Janet was alone at work one night.  Suddenly, she felt her heart rate go up and she felt terrified.  She immediately went to the hospital.  Over the next few weeks, she went to the emergency room for these recurring episodes, until her doctor told her that she needed to stay.  It was a frightening experience knowing that she would need a heart transplant in order to leave the hospital.  In the US, 22 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant.

After a six-and-a-half-week wait, Janet was given a second chance at life.  Someone said yes to donation and saved her life.  She was determined to get her strength back after the transplant and dedicated herself to the hospital’s cardio rehabilitation and walking regiment.  Every day, Janet became stronger and was able to do more.  Her determination was remarkable and after 20 months of time off from work, she was able to go back and get her life back.

Janet also began swimming again, something that she used to enjoy in college.  That’s what led her to her next exciting challenge in life – becoming an athlete.  Janet heard about an athletic Olympic-style competition for transplant recipients called the Donate Life Transplant Games of America.  As she continued to increase her athletic abilities, the idea of competing and challenging herself appealed to her.  So, she went for it!  She competed in swimming, dis dis and shot put.  She medaled in every event that she participated in and was shocked to see how far she had come since receiving a new heart.

Over the past ten years, Janet traveled the country and the world competing in both the US and World Transplant Games.  She has traveled to Sweden, South Africa and most recently, Argentina.  Janet has earned 27 medals in a variety of events.  Each year, she mails her medals to her donor’s family.  Although she does not know information about her donor or their family, she has written to them to say thank you, and show how much their decision to say “yes” has changed her life.

“My life is amazing to me.  I can’t believe that at 50 years old, I am an athlete.  Before my heart transplant, I never thought my life would turn out this way.  Life used to be very predictable.” Janet said.  “Now, I get to travel the world and I’m never sure where it will take me next.  It’s very exciting.”

In addition to the time that she devotes to competing, Janet also is a tireless advocate for organ and tissue donation.  She volunteers at Gift of Life Donor Program as a speaker and at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where she talks to patients who are waiting for transplants.  Since retiring after 33 years, volunteering has become her full-time job.  “People are so sick.  When I was in the hospital, I couldn’t imagine ever feeling better and being able to leave.  I try to give people hope that there is something more in store for them.” she said.

Janet has spoken to many different groups and communities about donation.  She understands that over half of those waiting for a kidney transplant are minorities, and how crucial is it to reach these communities.  “It’s important that people understand that being an organ and tissue donor is about helping to save lives.  If they saw people who were waiting and knew their struggles, I think that they would choose to help.”

Currently, 5,300 people in Gift of Life’s region – eastern PA, southern NJ and DE – are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant, and multicultural communities are affected the most. Register as an organ and tissue donor today. It only takes 30 seconds.