Pgm #57: A Million Dollar Heart - A Transplant Story
September 19, 2013
Janet Dennis
heart recipient, transplant Games athlete, hospital chaplain
Heart transplant recipient and inspiring medal winning athlete, Philadelphia’s own Janet Dennis shares her life accomplishments with that new heart.
Her story spans a variety of platforms including the US & World Transplant Games, the Women Heart Group (maybe you saw her photo of accepting that $1M check for this group from Burlington Coat Factory last year?), still working, retirement, and the Chaplain Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP: her transplant hospital). Janet Dennis got her heart transplant at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) July 6, 2005.
Returning to work post-transplant, she went on to become a medal-winning athlete at the age of 50, competing in both US and World Transplant Games. She has attending three World Games, including the most recent in South Africa, and four US Transplant Games as a member of Team Philadelphia and Team USA. From her first year out after that heart transplant Janet has been a strong and medal winning competitor in swimming both the 50 and 100 yard backstroke competitions. Janet has also competed in Shot Put, Discus, Javelin and the Long Jump. She has 17 medals to her credit including 5 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze medals and currently hold one US record.
