In 1999, Adam Rabinowitz went from starting on his high school soccer team to waiting for a heart transplant, his athletic career seemingly at an end.
This summer, the junior will return to competitive athletics, this time running track in the 15th World Transplant Games.
Currently training for the July 16-22 competition in London, Ontario, Rabinowitz will be one of more than 100 organ transplant recipients to represent the United States as they compete against representatives of more than 40 countries in several sports.
Rabinowitz said he tries to exercise every day but that it is difficult because he has an unrelenting medical regimen. He takes approximately 30 pills every day to prevent organ rejection.
When he is able to get to the gym, Rabinowitz works hard. Pottruck Center personal trainer Debbie Saddel, who works with Rabinowitz on his legwork, said the junior is "very motivated and hard-working."
"He wants to help people," she added.
Rabinowitz's transformation from high school athlete to heart recipient was sudden.
Shortly after the soccer season ended, a virus began attacking his heart. When it became clear that organ failure was imminent, the teenager became a candidate for a heart transplant. He underwent two surgeries at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital that totaled about 22 hours in length. The cause of the virus remains unknown, Rabinowitz said.
He said he later learned that the chances of his surviving surgery were less than 10 percent.
At one point, Rabinowitz said he had the mental capacity of a 7-year-old because there was not enough blood in his brain.
"I realized how drastic the situation was," he said.
Of the 97 days he was in the hospital, his friends and family visited him on every one. He said that this positive, strong support is what sticks out from his experience at the hospital, in addition to the pain of waking up with a tube in his throat and cuts on his body.
"I never felt sorry for myself," Rabinowitz said. "I was glad everyone was there."
Rabinowitz was introduced to transplant athletics while in the intensive care unit at Johns Hopkins following his surgery. Members of his support group introduced him to Team Maryland, the transplant team organized by his state.
Excited about the possibility of competing, he began training. Since then, Rabinowitz has competed in two U.S. transplant competitions. He received a gold medal and two silver medals for track and field events last summer in Minneapolis and a bronze medal in the five-kilometer race in 2002 at the games in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Since then, he has become more ambitious about his athletic capabilities.
Rabinowitz is training long-term with tennis team member and senior Justin Lavner to compete in tennis for the next U.S. games. Lavner plans to accompany Rabinowitz to this summer's games, as well.
Lavner and Rabinowitz lift weights three times a week. Lavner said that Rabinowitz has the physical talent and determination to do well at the World Transplant Games.
"Everyone at the Games is an incredible story," Lavner added. "It takes tremendous bravery to go out there and compete at a competitive level."
The first Transplant Olympics -- later renamed the World Transplant Games -- was organized by British transplant surgeon Maurice Slapak and held in Portsmouth, England, in 1978.
Ellie Schlam, a spokeswoman for the National Kidney Foundation, which organizes the Transplant Games, said that most people participate for the camaraderie.
"People participate to meet people who have gone through the same situation. It's something most people aren't familiar with," Schlam said. She added that the foundation hopes to encourage more people to become organ donors.
Rabinowitz said he is excited more for the friendly environment than the competition of the World Transplant Games.
"It's great to share stories and give each other tips on medication and exercise," Rabinowitz said.
Rabinowitz and Lavner have plans to form a student organ-donation awareness group called Youth Organ Donor Awareness and Transplantation.
"Sixteen people die every day waiting for a transplant," said Rabinowitz, who visits with hospital patients regularly. "YODAT is to get the message out about why people donate -- for a life-saving purpose."
