N.L. teen among Canadians off to World Transplant Games

A teenager from Newfoundland and Labradorwho has survived three heart transplants has been selected to be among more than 30 Canadians taking part in the World Transplant Games in Thailand.

Terry Gill, 18, from Newtown in Bonavista Bay, hadthe heart transplants by the time he was 14 years old. Today, the high school graduate is healthier than ever and on his way to Bangkok for the 16th event to compete in bowling and golf.

Gill said he was thrilled when Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children chose him to be a member of its team.

"I've been coming to Sick Kids for years, and years and years," Gill said. "And they decided a few months ago that they were going to to take a team to Thailand, and my transplant co-ordinator called me and asked me if I would like to go, and I said, 'Well sure! why not?'"

Fifteen hundred athletes representing 69 countries will compete in Bangkok from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1.

Gill is among 17 Hospital for Sick Children heart transplant patients heading to the Games, with the team making uphalf of the 34-member Canadian delegation, according to a hospital news release.

Gill's mother Louise said they couldn't refuse the opportunityfor him tocompete on an international stage with the hospital's team.

"Everybody's very excited for him, to be well enough to do it," She said. "Anybody who's known Terry knows how sick he's been over the years … And for him to be able to do this is really good."

Gill raised $4,000 from local businesses and friends to help pay for his trip, and said he's looking forward to bringing home a medal as a big "thank you."