Elisabetta Scurati-Manzoni -- Italy

Age: 24

Transplant: Kidney, 1984

Hometown: Milan, Italy

Events: Swimming -- 50m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke, 50m Breaststroke

Elisabetta's Story: Elisabetta received a kidney transplant on March 21, 1984, in Houston. She is a medical student (6 year) and wants to specialize in pediatric surgery after graduating. In October 1997, she is going to move to Padova to finish her studies and then specialize there.

She says, "I wasn't able to swim before my transplant because I was afraid of the water and I easily got cold and tired. But after my transplant, I wanted to throw myself into life, and the first thing I did was to learn to swim. It literally took me two weeks. Since then, I haven't swum very much, but last year, I picked up swimming again in a more serious way. I tried to go as much as possible to a swimming pool near home. And here I am this year, ready to face the world competitions. I love swimming and I intend to swim for the rest of my life!"

My Message to the World: I always was a very lively child, and when I was told that I was to have a kidney transplant to live, I accepted it and I made myself responsible for taking care of my kidney with love, just like a mother takes care of her child. I wanted to LIVE and to throw myself into life! And with Jesus, I did. And now here I am, almost a doctor, full of work, activities, and friends. I love life, I love Jesus, and I know that with Him I'm safe because He saved my life!

 

Last modified: 11 May 2000