MY NAME IS MARK. I AM A 43 YR. OLD HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT FROM PINEHURST NC. THIS MONTH(OCT 08) I WILL BE FOUR YR. OLD , AS FAR AS ME HAVING MY TRANSPLANT. YEARS AGO I USE TO RUN TRACK AND IT WAS MY FAVORITE THING TO DO.

       MANY OF YOU RUN MANY MILES A DAY,SEVERAL MILES A WEEK.BEFORE MY TRANSPLANT,ICOULDN'T WALK 15 STEPS WITHOUT FEELING LIKE I I HAD WORKED IN THE TOBACCO FIELD ALL DAY.THE HEART WOULD BEAT SO SLOW THAT OXYGEN WAS NOT GETTING TO MY EXTREMETIES,TRAVELING WITH THE BLOOD FLOW,FAST ENOUGH.FLUID WOULD BUILD UP IN MY LUNGS TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS SQUEEZING BOTH OF MY LUNGS AT THE SAME TIME.ROLLING OVER TO GET OUT OF BED WAS A CHORE!!

    NOW THAT I HAVE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE,I TRY TO MAKE EVERYDAY COUNT.EVERY TWO YEARS I TRY TO ATTEND THE US TRANSPLANT GAMES(WWW.TRANSPLANTGAMES.ORG)WHICH IS HELD IN A DIFFERENT STATE.THE NEXT GAMES WILL BE IN MADISON,WISC.2010.CAN'T WAIT TO GO!!!

   BEEN TRYING TO CREATE SOME TYPE OF PERIODIZATION CHART FOR MYSELF,BUT THINK THAT I MAY NEED SOME HELP IN CREATING ONE.I AM GOING TO ATTEMPT TO HIGH JUMP AND THROW THE DISCUS.BECAUSE OF A SHOULDER INJURY,I WAS ONLY ABLE TO THROW 98',BUT MY GOAL IN 2010 IS TO THROW AROUND 125-130FT. S.O.S!!!

    because someone decided to be an organ donor,i am alive and doing those things that are my dream.choosing to become an organ donor,puts someone in a position to start their lives ANEW!! your sacrifice could save someone who will be able to save another!!!!!