Missy Peterson

Hometown
Rapid City, SD 

Connection to donation/transplantation:
I am a double lung transplant recipient of 27.5 years. My transplant was at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, now UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado. Date of transplant was 12/28/1996.

Competitions/Events at the 2024 Transplant Games of America:
I will be competing in Swimming, Bowling, Darts and Trivia  

How many Transplant Games have you attended?
12 US Games and 1 World Games.  These will be lucky number 13 for me 😊 

Why do you participate in the Transplant Games?
I participate in the games to bring awareness to organ donation and show what my transplant has helped me achieve. I look forward to seeing the friends I have met over the years at the games to laugh and cry with. I participate in the games to thank my donor for saving my life. 

One thing you want others to know about donation:
Organ donation is a selfless gift one chooses to give, to help another continue living their life.  I wouldn’t have been able to watch my niece and nephew grow up, foster numerous dogs for a local animal shelter, watch my parents grow older, or help my mom throughout her cancer treatments without the gift of life. Please let your family members know today if you want to be an organ donor so they can honor you by fulfilling your last wishes. You can also become a living donor for a kidney or liver if you know someone in need or by contacting your local organ procurement organization to see what the next steps would be. Thank you!