Yvette was 40 years old when she was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease that causes inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts. A lifelong athlete who was active and had no symptoms, the diagnosis came as quite a shock.
“I ended up going to the doctor for my annual physical, and the doctor said that my liver enzymes were elevated,” said Yvette. “They wanted to find out what was going on, but I didn’t do anything because I felt fine. When I went back the next year, my liver enzymes were worse.”
Eventually, Yvette was referred to a hepatologist and received her diagnosis. At the time, Yvette was working full time and playing competitive volleyball. But over the years, her disease began taking a toll, even if she didn’t realize it at first.
“I was still feeling okay,” said Yvette. “Well, I thought I was. I realized after I had my transplant that I actually wasn’t.”
Yvette was placed on the transplant waiting list in 2006 and remained on it for 6 ½ years. By the final year, she was struggling to get through each day and had to leave her job in 2012.
“During that last year, I felt just horrible,” said Yvette. “I was basically just eating and sleeping. I was very tired and nauseous and had no energy. I had a huge belly, and people would constantly ask me when I was due. But instead of getting mad, I would take it as an opportunity to talk about organ donation.”
In 2013, Yvette received the call she had been waiting for. A liver had become available for transplant.
“I was at home eating a bowl of soup when I received the call,” she recalled. “They said, ‘You have an hour and a half to get to the hospital.’”
Yvette quickly showered, finished packing her bag, and had a friend drive her to the hospital.
“I was calling my mom, calling my dad, and calling my brothers. I’m just calling everybody that I can think of to let them know that it finally came. It was wild. It was just a whirlwind. It was so fast.”
When Yvette woke up from surgery, she noticed a difference right away.
“I knew immediately that I had a new liver because I had so much energy,” she said. “I remember looking in the mirror and seeing that my eyes weren’t yellow anymore. Those are the two things I definitely remember the most. That was pretty cool.”
Yvette didn’t know anything about her donor, but over the years, she has written to the donor family several times. In her letters, she has shared updates about her life after transplant, including her participation in the Transplant Games of America. She first heard about the Games from her doctor, who knew how eager she was to get active again after her transplant.
In 2014, Yvette attended her first Games in Houston, Texas, and was immediately hooked.
“There were just a lot of happy, grateful people,” said Yvette. “Recipients who were grateful to be alive, and donor families who were grateful that their loved one was able to help someone else be alive. I remember being overwhelmed with everything that was going on, but I was thrilled to be active and compete again. It was the greatest feeling.”
While there, Yvette dipped her toes into the world of track and field. She quickly found success, winning nine medals during her first Games. Since then, she has collected approximately 100 medals competing in various events at the Transplant Games of America, the World Transplant Games, and the National Senior Games.
“My first World Games was in 2017, in Spain,” said Yvette. “The World Games are held every odd-numbered year. After Spain, I went to Great Britain, Australia, and Germany. I’ll go to Belgium next year. I now have a whole group of friends that I know and compete against from all over the world.”
Yvette says her strongest event is shot put, where she holds a world record. She also enjoys the 100-meter dash and long jump. Next, she’s ready to take on the javelin. But, despite all the accolades, Yvette says the Games are not about winning at all.
“It’s really about community,” said Yvette. “Even if you’re not athletic, there are events like singing and dancing, which I can’t do either of! There is also trivia, darts, and a walking race. It’s about getting out there and participating, whether you’re a donor, a donor family, or a recipient. Just show up to one of the Games and you will keep coming back year after year!”
Thanks to her donor, when Yvette isn’t competing, she spends her time volunteering with Donate Life, her local library, and the Red Cross. Before her transplant, she had never volunteered. But after being given a second chance at life, giving back has become incredibly important to her.
“When I wrote to my donor family, I said that I really appreciated their loved one being a donor,” said Yvette. “I thanked them and told them that I was using my liver to be active in my community. I just wanted to let them know that I was not sitting on the couch. I was out and about and making a difference.”
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