Opening Ceremony Puts ‘Miracle of Life’ Center Stage at Birmingham 2024 Transplant Games

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Rodney Woodall, a cancer survivor, retired police officer of 20 years, donor family member, received a heart transplant in August 2020, but said it wasn’t the “hardest” part of his journey.

“Last year, July 18, 2023, I lost my son. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life was watch my son die … my son, JJ, was an inspiration to all of us,” Woodall said during the opening ceremony of the Games on Saturday. 2024 American transplant from Birmingham. “He saw that someone gave his life so that his father might live.”

Jaydon “JJ” Woodall was a registered organ donor, and after his death, one kidney each went to two adults in Illinois and Missouri.

“When I was in the hospital for the transplant, he would sign the back of my driver’s license; he wanted to be a donor not for me, but he saw how this great community came together to support his father,” Woodall said.

Saturday marked the official start of the 2024 Transplant Games of the Americas, which features athletes from all 50 states who have helped or received organ donations.

Every two years, America’s Transplant Games host an Olympic-style competition to celebrate the miracle of life.

The opening ceremony was held at Legacy Arena with remarks from Woodall and Bill Ryan, president and CEO of the Transplant Life Foundation.

“How fitting that transplant, one of life’s greatest miracles, should take center stage…?” Ryan said. Addressing the participants, he added: “During the next five days (July 5-10) you will demonstrate many things to people around the world; first, the recipients will stand, competing in more than 20 physical and mental challenges that demonstrate again and again how the transplant gave them a return to a healthy life.

“Joining living donors, we recognize here the contribution that a selfless donation by a donor has taken us to the next chapter of the amazing medical miracle,” he said. “Generations to come will look back on this time and marvel at the steps we took to save lives.”

Most of the more than 20 events will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, but will span the entire county.

Ryan hopes the lasting message will be to get help for the 110,000 people waiting for organs today. “I would be very happy if we left town and someone said we saved 50 lives,” he said. “We don’t know that. We were just hoping that the word would spread and it will.”

44 teams will compete. Friday marked the official start of the five-day event.

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