For Francine Lacharite and Yves Gagnon, their lives began anew when they received heart transplants.

The two Quebec residents, who met in Windsor this weekend when they arrived for the Canadian Transplant Games, can now lead active and fulfilling lives, thanks to their heart donors.

Gagnon, 58, said he felt "like a newborn" after he received a new heart.

Orest Saskiw, 66, of Saskatchewan will participate in the Canadian Transplant Games being held this week at the University of Windsor. Saskiw received a heart transplant on Feb. 6, 2000 and is participating in his second games.
Nick Brancaccio, The Windsor Star

"It's not the same life," he said Monday afternoon in front of University of Windsor's Alumni Hall, where hundreds of transplant recipients, along with their family members and friends, came to register for the Olympic-style games, which will be held in the city this week.

Events include track and field, cycling, tennis, swimming, golf and bowling. More than 350 organ transplant recipients from across Canada and the United States are participating. Windsor is hosting the fourth edition of the Canadian Transplant Games, which are expected to boost the local economy.

Lacharite said she is still surprised when she looks at a recent photo of herself or catches her reflection in the mirror. The 61-year-old woman lost about 300 pounds after she underwent a type of gastric bypass surgery in Montreal that had never been performed before. Lacharite had gained a lot of weight following her heart transplant due to post-transplant medication she had to take.

Since she's shed the pounds, Lacharite has been feeling "marvelous," she said in French as Gagnon translated.

Lacharite said she can now swim, walk -- and bowl in the transplant games.

Lacharite and Gagnon's experiences are just two of many inspirational tales that will be shared this week as athletes compete and raise awareness about organ transplant and the importance of becoming a donor.

Orest Saskiw, a 66-year-old heart transplant recipient who arrived with a group of athletes from Saskatchewan, said the transplant games are "a wonderful time" because they give transplant recipients and donor families a chance to meet and share their stories of survival.

"It's like one big family," he said. "It's so nice to see everyone and see that they're doing well. It's very important."

Saskiw received his new heart more than eight years ago and hasn't had any major complications since.

He doesn't know much about the donor, but figures he or she was about 12 years younger than him at the time of the transplant. And he's very thankful.

"(A transplant) gives you a second chance at life," he said. "I was dying. Now I can do all sorts of things."

Registration for the games will continue Tuesday morning at Alumni Hall, followed by a 20-kilometre cycling competition, a road race and a pin bowling competition. Opening ceremonies will be held at Dieppe Park at 8 p.m. The transplant games end Aug. 9.