MASSIVE CELEBRATION OF LIFE: The opening parade for the 13th annual Transplant Games. Picture: Darren Pateman
WINNER: Jack Campbell with mum Melissa and silver 3-km run medal. Picture: Darren Pateman
ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE: The 13th annual Transplant Games opening ceremony held at the Newcastle Foreshore. Picture: Darren Pateman
MC: Derryn Hinch conducted the official opening of the 13th annual Transplant Games at the Newcastle Foreshore. Picture: Darren Pateman
WINNER: Three-year-old Charlie O'Sullivan received a medal in the 3 km fun run. Picture: Darren Pateman
ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE: The 13th annual Transplant Games opening ceremony held at the Newcastle Foreshore. Picture: Darren Pateman
ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE: The 13th annual Transplant Games opening ceremony held at the Newcastle Foreshore. Picture: Darren Pateman
MASSIVE CELEBRATION OF LIFE: The opening parade for the 13th annual Transplant Games. Picture: Darren Pateman
LOVE IS IN THE AIR: John Paul Young singing at the opening ceremony. Picture: Darren Pateman
MASSIVE CELEBRATION OF LIFE: The opening parade for the 13th annual Transplant Games. Picture: Darren Pateman
MASSIVE CELEBRATION OF LIFE: The opening parade for the 13th annual Transplant Games. Picture: Darren Pateman
ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE: The 13th annual Transplant Games opening ceremony held at the Newcastle Foreshore. Picture: Darren Pateman
FLORAL TRIBUTE: Games attendees show their appreciation. Picture: Darren Pateman
ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE: The 13th annual Transplant Games opening ceremony held at the Newcastle Foreshore. Picture: Darren Pateman
CLASSIC CARS: Participants in the Opening Ceremony do a drive by. Picture: Darren Pateman
AT the start of 2012 Jack Campbell, seven, needed to be carried to school and only three months ago he had open-heart surgery.
Yesterday he won a silver medal in the three-kilometre fun run at the Australian Transplant Games in Newcastle.
‘‘This is one of the proudest moments as a parent,’’ Jack’s mother Melissa Campbell said.
‘‘To be able to see him compete is a miracle, a massive celebration of life.’’
The Campbell family was among a big crowd that gathered on the Newcastle Foreshore for the 13th games, an event held every two years to show the success of organ transplantation and to improve organ donation rates in Australia.
At birth, Jack was diagnosed with extreme narrowing of the aortic valve. He was given only a 12.5 per cent chance of surviving open-heart surgery to implant the new valve and up to 50per cent chance of suffering permanent brain damage.
The Campbells don’t know the valve donor, although doctors told them it was likely to have come from a newborn.
Chief executive officer Chris Thomas said the games were trying to increase donation rates to 75 per cent of potential donors.