COMOX VALLEY, BC. – A Comox Valley resident is cleaning up at the Canadian Transplant Games in Vancouver.
Robbie Thompson has won a gold medal in each of his four events including the 5 km cycling time trial, 20 km cycling road race, and freestyle and backstroke swimming competitions.
Thompson’s mom Susan Germain said all of this would not be possible without the gift of organ donation.
The 20-year-old Thompson was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy which causes the left side of the heart to be too large to close properly, making it unable to properly pump blood.
Thompson had two life-saving heart transplants before he was six years old. The first came at 18 months old, the second when he was five.
Thompson is a veteran of the games, despite being limited physically because he doesn’t have nerve connections to his heart due to the transplants.
“Physical activity is definitely a lot more difficult for me than a lot of other people but at the same time, I’ve been able to do a whole lot. I’ve been able to go to Australia for the World Transplant Games, (and) I’ve attended many other Canadian Transplant Games,” he said.
Germaine is extremely proud of her son’s accomplishments, not just at the games, but throughout his life, especially in his tireless efforts in promoting organ donation.
“I can’t even tell you how proud I am of him,” Germain told MyComoxValleyNow.com.
“He’s such a wonderful human being and he’s really honoured this heart.”
The games wrap up Saturday.
