By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Carlie Newton-Sanchez. Contributed Photo
For many years, traveling to the Transplant Games was an annual trip for the Newton family of Geneseo.
Carlie Newton-Sanchez continues to attend the Games, but the “family” that travels with her has changed.
Carlie Newton-Sanchez was just three months old when she received 20 percent of her mother’s left liver lobe in 1997, and in 2008, the Newton family, dad Vince, mom Cindy and daughter Carlie, began attending the Transplant Games together, celebrating the incredible display of life and athleticism made possible through donation.
Attending the Transplant Games came to a halt after the death of Carlie’s mother, Cindy, who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2020.
“We attended every event as a family until 2020,” Carlie said. “My father and I took time to grieve for my mom, intending to compete in the 2022 Games to honor her memory and her legacy as a living donor and member of Team Iowa. However, in January of 2022, my father was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. As his health declined, I chose to stay by his side rather than compete that summer. He passed away later that year, and in keeping with our family’s commitment to donation, he was able to donate his corneas and give the gift of life to someone else.”
After the loss of both parents, Carlie shared that she struggled with a profound void and wasn’t sure if she could ever return to the Transplant Games without her parents cheering on the sidelines.
“After much reflection, I knew they would not want me to stop participating,” she said. “The beautiful things about the Transplant Games and the organ donation community are that we truly become a family. The bonds and friendships span miles and miracles. We are all here for the same reason-to spread awareness and honor those who made it all possible, the donors!”
The 2026 Games were held in Denver in June of this year, and Carlie was there to participate in pickleball, swimming, track and field, Corn Hole, and Volleyball and brought home seven medals. The Games are held every two years and in 2028 the Transplant Games of America will be held in Saint Paul, MN, running from August 4 to August 9, 2028.
The “family” dynamics of attending the Games with mom and dad have changed for the young woman, but she continues to have “family” with her as several area residents also traveled to Denver for the Games.
Newton-Sanchez said, “Organ donation can turn loss into life, and the Transplant Games makes that transformation visible. One gift restores health and hope, while the Games unite recipients, donors, and families in celebration — proof that a single decision to donate can carry entire communities forward, together. We hope our stories inspire you to share the gift of life with others. The next Games are in St Paul, Minnesota. Please reach out to any of us for more information if you or someone you know may want to be participate!”
THEIR STORIES:
DAN AND LINDA DESMITH OF ATKINSON--Linda DeSmith was aware of the need for organ donation as she had a cousin needing a kidney in 1979. At that time only pageants and siblings could donate, so she wasn’t considered. But when she heard her aunt needed a kidney in 2008, she volunteered to be tested and was a match!
The surgery was successful and 18 years later both Linda and her aunt are healthy. The following year, Carlie Newton and her mom met Linda DeSmith at Geneseo Middle School where Linda was a nurse and Carlie would be a student entering sixth grade.
The Newton’s told Linda about the Transplant Games of America where were being held in Wisconsin in 2010. That was the first games and her husband Dan went to and they’ve now attended four.
Fast forward to January 2024, when a friend, Kathleen Repass called Linda to ask questions about kidney donation as Kathleen had decided to donate a kidney to a stranger in need.
After ending the call, Linda told her husband about Kathleen’s upcoming surgery, and Dan immediately said, “I want to donate a kidney!”
Dan & Linda DeSmith(pictured in red). Contributed Photo.
After seeing how Linda’s aunt and other organ recipients lived a healthy life, he always wanted to donate. But he thought he was too old at age 67. Linda suggested they look into donating through National Kidney Foundation (NFK). Two days later, the DeSmiths’ were playing Pickleball with Vern and Karen Griffiths from Annawan when Vern shared that he needed a kidney transplant. Again, Dan immedicably said, “I’ll donate’. They didn’t end up being a math, but Dan went through the NFK voucher program and donated his kidney in July of 2024. The day of Dan’s surgery, Vern (as Dan’s voucher designee) gets his name entered into the NFK system to find a match for him from another living donor in the voucher program. Two months later, Vern got his new kidney!
In Colorado at this years Transplant Games, Linda participated in pickleball and Texas Hold ‘Em. Dad did corn hole, pickleball and a 5K. Dan and Linda got a gold medal in mixed pickleball. They get to chose who awards the medal, and they chose Vern.
DAN FITZGERALD OF GENESEO – “I did a non-directed kidney donation at Mayo Clinic in February of 2025. My kidney was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center. I never heard from my recipient, but I was told their transplant went well, and that’s all that matters. This year was my first time at the Transplant Games. I competed in Pickleball, 5K run and Track & Field. I had the most success in the running events, finishing 2nd in my division for the 5K and then capturing gold for the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter ,800-meter and 1500-meter at the track meet. But, pickleball was the most fun. I got to partner with Kathleen Repass, and we gave Dan and Linda a run for their money before settling for a bronze medal.”
Kathleen Repass(2nd from the left), Newton-Carley Sanchez, & Linda & Dan DeSmith. Contributed Photo.
KATHLEEN REPASS OF GENESEO – “My donation story began in 2023, as I was driving to Colorado, and listening to a podcast on Freakonomics Radio. Ned Brooks, now the director of the National Kidney Donation Organization, described that he had given a kidney as a non-directed donor. That meant that he did not know his recipient or anyone who needed a kidney. Over the next few weeks, as I reflected on what I had listened to, I felt God’s constant urging to begin the process of donating a kidney. I applied online, through the National Kidney Foundation. I selected Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, MN, as my donor site. After five months of testing and evaluation, I was determined to be a healthy donor. Through the national search process, a recipient in Pennsylvania was matched with me. He had dealt with poly-cystic kidney disease for many years. I donated at Mayo on January 10, 2024, and my kidney was immediately flown to Pennsylvania. By 1 p.m. that same day, my left kidney had been transplanted to the recipient and it was already functioning properly. My recovery was very smooth and without any problems. Three people have donated their “spare” kidney since they heard my story. I would be delighted to speak to any individual or organization about the need for and the gift of kidney donation - a gift for both the recipient and the donor!”
VERN GRIFFITHS OF ANNAWAN – “Living with Polycystic Kidney Disease, I knew the possibility of needing Dialysis or a Kidney Transplant was high. Over two years ago, at age 70, my bloodwork indicated that I needed to begin the process for Transplantation.
One day while playing pickleball with my wife and our two friends (Dan and Linda DeSmith), I needed to sit and catch my breath and shared the fact I had PKD and was hoping to get a Kidney Transplant someday. Right then, my fears of the future turned around when Dan told me that Linda had donated years ago to her aunt and that he would consider donating a kidney for me. After following the protocol through the University of Wisconsin- Madison hospitals, Dan gave the selfless gift of his kidney. Even though we weren’t a direct match his donation connected me to a more perfect match from Utah through the voucher program. Two months after his surgery/donation I had a new kidney too. Recently, we attended the Transplant Games of America in Denver, the world’s largest celebration of life, we saw resilience and hope through the eyes of recipients, donors, donor families and supporters.
I participated in the 5k, pickleball (of course), and ping pong. Today, I feel forever grateful for Dan who so willingly gave me a better chance at living a healthy life.”
