Never a day goes by that Howard Pritchard doesn’t think about his younger brother, Matt, and the hours they spent together, laughing and watching classic movies.
“He is in my thoughts each and every day,” said the 64-year-old Parkside resident.
Courtesy of Delco News Network.
John Matthew Pritchard, who was born more than six years after Howard, died at age 42 on July 1, 2001, 31 years after he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and 10 years after Howard donated one of his kidneys to him, enabling him to be free of dialysis.
“He didn’t want me to do it, but I did it anyway,” Howard Pritchard told the Daily Times in 2012. “It gave him an extra 10 years and he was a great person.”
Since his younger brother’s passing, Pritchard has participated in seven Donate Life Transplant Games of America competitions and is about to embark on his eighth. This year the games are being staged June 10 through 15 at the Cleveland Convention Center, Cleveland State University and Quail Hollow Country Club in Ohio. More than 9,000 organ recipients, donors and supporters from across the country are expected to attend.
“One of the main reasons I do participate in the transplant games is to honor my brother,” said Pritchard, whose brother bowled at the U.S. Transplant Games in 1998 and again in 2000 when Howard joined him and participated in the 5 kilometer run.
Learn more about Team Philadelphia athletes and the Transplant Games in the full article here.