Liver Transplant Recipient From Audubon Wins Gold Medal

SAN DIEGO — Philip Snyder of Audubon won a gold medal in bowling doubles at this year's Transplant Games of America in San Diego, the non-profit organization Gift of Life said.

Winning a medal in any sport would likely be a significant achievement for nearly anyone.

However, for 67-year-old Snyder, who some would say won a new chance at life by receiving a new liver via organ transplantation in July 2013, he said the gold medal was also significant in that it helped convince him that life goes on after a major operation.

"It was important to me to prove that I could do this, and not only did transplantation save my life, but once again I was a whole and healthy human being," he told Patch.

Snyder was one of roughly 100 athletes of all ages that made up Team Philadelphia for the Transplant Games of America, according to Gift of Life spokesperson Jeff Alexander. The games were held from July 29 through Aug. 3 in San Diego, Alexander continued.

The Transplant Games of America are somewhat similar to the Summer Olympics in terms of sporting events played and awards that are given, according to Alexander.

In all, Team Philadelphia brought home 36 gold medals, 16 silver medals and six bronze medals from this year's event, Alexander said.

Besides Snyder, there were several other Transplant Games of America winners from Camden and Gloucester counties, Gift of Life said.

Seven-year-old kidney recipient Sebastian Foster of Williamstown won gold medals in Darts 301, Bowling, Youth Olympiad and Table Tennis, as well as silver medals in Softball Throw and the 50- meter Dash, according to Gift of Life.

Eight-year-old cornea recipient Kacey Heisler of Laurel Springs won gold medals in Darts 301, Youth Olympiad and Bowling and a silver medal in Cycling, according to Gift of Life.

As for Snyder, who often gives speeches in the hopes of encouraging people to become organ donors, he encouraged everyone who is eligible to participate in the Transplant Games of America to do so.

"We compete but we are having fun," he said. "[We] give their all and there is at times contact, but after the game, both teams congratulate each other and yes, you’ll see hugs, because they have all been through the same stuff! There is an incredible camaraderie."

Snyder also encouraged all who can become organ donors or support the Transplant Games to strongly consider doing so, saying the games "are the lifeblood of the [Gift of Life] program."

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