June 20, 2006 - 9:47 PM: Volleyball/The Last Day/The Closing Ceremony

Tuesday June 20, 2006 – Volleyball/The Last Day/The Closing Ceremony

I can tell you that our trip to Louisville Kentucky has ended the same way that it started in a whirlwind of emotion and excitement. Before I tell you of today’s events, if I may, I would like to share today’s donor story with you all. It’s unavoidable that you strike up a conversation with a recipient, their family, a living donor, or a donor family. It seems to happen every minute of the day no matter where you are participating in the games. As Melissa & I were heading off to volleyball this morning, we ran into a man in our hotel lobby. I believe he was the one who started a conversation with us. Within a few moments we learned that he was a donor father and he learned I was a heart recipient. He had a large pin on the front of his shirt with a picture of his beautiful teenage daughter and her dog. What a great smile she had. He explained to us that he had lost her after she had an asthma attack and could not be revived. He explained to us that he still had her dog as he pointed his finger on the button to his daughter’s dog. That’s about all it took for me to have my throat close and my eyes start to tear. He told us that he had written 2 letters to the recipient of her donated organs. He too became so emotional that he could not speak. I told him that I had written 2 letters to my donor family and that I have not heard anything yet. I hugged this man around his shoulders and told him that I would be his adopted donor recipient. He seemed overwhelmed by this. So was I. We exchanged our blessings and said goodbye. It took me several minutes to be able to speak clearly and I could feel tears on my face. I thought to myself how will this wonderful soldier of a father ever deal with the death of his daughter’s dog? Almost instantly I thought of the reunion of the dog and his daughter when they should meet again in all of eternity. I thought to myself how much I missed our dog Maggie.

Today was our volleyball tournament. It was held in the Kentucky Convention Center. The volleyball courts are mammoth. As far as the eye can see there is nothing but volleyball nets. It was very similar to pool atmosphere. There was the clamor and chatter of excitement. We came out smoking. We won 4 games in a row against other states who were probably equal to us and we were just a teeny bit better. Our fifth game came up against Team Mo-Kan (Missouri & Kansas). These guys were good! Big time good! We fought like dogs but we lost 2 games to them and we were eliminated. I myself had the time of my life playing against these other states. It was awesome. I think my best gig may have been in game 2 when I served for the final 5 points to give us a victory. Our team really seemed to come together and I know without question everyone will be hungrier at the next games in 2 years.

After volleyball Melissa & I changed quickly and hustled off to the golf course where my dear friend and transplant soul mate Patsy Twohill was representing Team Connecticut with one of our team captains Al. I have not been on a golf course since 1973. It all came back to me why I have always hated golf . We started around this 18 hole course trying to find our teammates so we could support them and cheer them on. Pretty soon we realized that cheering, clapping and loud behavior is not acceptable on a golf course. How boring! Don’t you think? ;-) It also seems to be very dangerous to walk in these places. It’s muddy; there are little ponds, and sand holes. We exhausted ourselves for 2 hours in this hot Kentucky sun. I must tell you that with all I have done since Friday morning (swimming and all) I did not need to do this but I love Patsy that much. She was my mentor and advisor during some of my hardest times. She has just past the fifth anniversary of her heart transplant. She has a man’s heart. We usually have some fun teasing each other about the cross gender of our hearts. Anyway, there are no bathrooms on a golf course so I figured it’s probably ok to find a quiet secluded place to visit. As I stood in these Kentucky swamp weeds trying to water their roots I heard something whistle. It seemed to be coming closer. There was a wiz and plop. What the heck is that I’m thinking? As I walked out of the weeds, there was a golf ball sitting there minding its own business in the grass. I thought to myself, that wasn’t there when I came in. I called to Melissa, did you hear something? She said that she had but she didn’t know where it had come from or where it had landed. While we waited for Patsy and Al to surface from this god forsaken refuge, I thought of several reasons why I believe that hockey is a much safer game. In hockey, you get to wear a helmet and a mouth guard so if something hits you in the face you don’t lose your teeth. You get to wear a cup. It is also very hot on the golf course. Inside the ice hockey rink, it is wicked cool. And last but not least you don’t have to wash your balls every time you touch your club. So if I were you, I would put your golf clubs out for the trash man and take up hockey! It is much safer! We finally outlasted Patsy and Al and they were forced from their hibernation in this wretched 18 hole area. I think they happened upon us on hole 17. Now I never realized that such decorum was necessary while playing golf. I was running and hollering with my knees pinned together and my arms waving. I gave them both a big hug. Patsy was laughing and giggling. I think that Al was mortified. I saw them writing their score down on a little card. When they explained to me what they were doing, I said to them both why don’t you just cheat and give yourself a good score? Maybe you’ll win the golf tournament. I think that Al was quite happy there was only one hole to play with me along. I offered to run as fast as I could to the green and put the ball in the cup for them and save them all of this wasted energy. Finally I decided, Melissa & I should just leave them and their little golf playmates alone. So after they all hit their first drive I went out onto the fairway and stood among all of the golf balls. I started to pretend that I was one of the village people. I was shaking my behind (Melissa adds…while asking me if his ass looks fat), dancing and singing “it’s fun to be at the Y-M-C-A.” I was making a giant Y-M-C-A with my arms. I thought that our team captain Al would die. Patsy was hysterical. Patsy has won a gold medal in golf at 3 USA transplant Olympic competitions and also at the World Transplant games. She is an awesome golfer! (Melissa adds… She kicks some serious ass. You would not believe her swing!) We’ve always heard it but to experience it was just amazing. I just thought of one more reason that hockey is better… When you try and lean against a tree to get some shade from the sun, for some unexplainable reason the trees are full of ants that bite. They were in my hair, my ears and shorts. There are no ants in a hockey rink.

While I am confessing my dislikes to you, I must tell you one more. I do not like to fly. I have flown maybe 6 times in my life. It always gives me the feeling of being trapped inside of a dryer looking out the little window. It’s ghastly. So if someone every offers you a plane ride to Louisville Kentucky via Cincinnati Ohio or a heart biopsy, I think you would be far wiser to take the heart biopsy. It’s much easier. As much fun as all of this may have sounded to you, I can tell you it’s a good idea to keep your original factory organs. These aftermarket organs require an awful lot of hard work, proper diet, good care, and attention. You would be far better off to try and compete in the regular Olympics. I am anxious to return home to Northford CT, to New England, where I belong. I’m not sure if you knew, but it’s also the world head quarters for the Northford Timber Framers. Hey Sue, I miss you and I have a great gift for you!

The closing ceremonies were just as full of pizzazz and flash as the opening ceremonies were. Melissa & I decided we would do a Houdini so we would have time to pack because we are leaving early in the morning. When we saw a break in the program, we said our goodbyes to all of our teammates/athletes/our 2 donor families and all of the recipient families. I told the whole group of them that I love you. I put my hand over my heart and pretended I was hugging them all. As we turned to leave, my new little pal from team Philly Jordan came racing up the stairs into the stands. He hollered out to me in front of all my teammates, George! He wrapped his arms around me and I couldn’t help but get on my knees and give him a big bear hug. It felt so good to see this little boy as we were leaving. He was so excited and was talking a mile a minute. Please come with me, my father wants to talk to you he says. So he took me by the hand and led me away to where team Philly was sitting. His giant of a father gave me a big hand shake and said thank you. We really appreciate that you have taken the time to be Jordan’s friend he said. Jordan said to his father Dad! Dad! You said I could ask George. His father told him to go ahead and Jordan invited to me to his older brother’s graduation next week. It made me get choked up. I sat down next to him and I told him that it was a long way from where I live but I would think about it. I told him that I would think about him and I asked him to think about me. I put my hand on his chest and told him to take care of his heart. I told him that I loved him and we left.

I must tell you all something that I think about all the time but I have not written in my journal in far too long. I hope you will all take a moment and say a prayer and think about all of our soldiers, all of our men & women who are in harms way. These transplant games have been to raise awareness. We should never need to raise awareness for the gratitude that we must have as Americans for our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers who are always ready to do whatever is necessary to protect our freedoms wherever duty shall call.

That’s all from Looeyville Kentucky. You guys are the best!

Sincerely forever your friend your pal your brother

George David Senerchia II
ILYBG
Miracles: no problem

PS…
The feeling is strong and it overpowers my thoughts
My mind is not aware of the reality that my blood knows only too well
My mind is hostile for the wrong reasons
And the need to be brother is tremendous
~Kenny Rankin

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