We had the privilege to get an
interview about André Lassooij, his life was saved by an unknown lung donor! Read
about his remarkable life from being diagnosed with a progressive and
irreversible lung disease causing him to need a lung transplant to survive.
“André Lassooij was
in his early 30’s when pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was diagnosed. Before he was
ill, he practiced in various sports, including table tennis, squash, cycling
and running. The next four years after he was diagnosed, the disease changed
him. The duration of his power was rapidly deteriorating and it was almost
impossible for him to move without oxygen. A stair elevator was needed, André had
to stop work and visited the hospital often. But he still went with oxygen to
the sport school and swimming (with a tube of 12m and the bottle on the site of
the pool!) until even that wasn’t possible anymore in spite of full oxygen.
In year of 1996, Andrés life
was changed completely by the lifesaving "Gift of life" of an unknown lung
donor. After the transplant, his health improved immediately and after four
months he was able to his work on the bike again! One year after
transplantation, he participated in the World Transplant Games (WTG) in Sydney, Australia. André was then able to participate in all of the
following WTG and developed in athletics, winning many medals. The WTG Gold
Coast, Australia in 2009 was his most successful with world records in the 100m
and 200m sprints and gold in high and long jump. André is most proud of his
sporting performance in 2008, when he became Dutch champion at the 200m sprint
M50, whose opponents in the final did not know or barely knew of his double lung
transplantation.
In 2014, André, as initiator of Expedition Kilimanjaro, managed to climb with 8 other organ transplant recipients, under the responsibility of the UMCG, the Kilimanjaro with the summit at 5895m. In addition to his athletic achievements, André has dealt with a number of administrative functions. As Vice-President of the European Heart Lung Transplant Federation, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games in Apeldoorn 2012, Chairman of the Dutch Sport and Transplantation Foundation and in 2013 elected Trustee, and since 2015, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the World Transplant Games Federation. For his inspiring sports performance and administrative functions after his double lung transplant, in 2016 André Lassooij received the European Lung Foundation Award (ELF). Earlier, the ELF Award was awarded to the World Health Organization (2014), FC Barcelona (2013) and Mr Bloomberg, New York (2008).
In 2016, with the project “Life
for Kids”, André promoted physical activity for children before and after
transplant by giving presentations in 15 transplant centers for children on his
cycling route of 3610 km over Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris, Madrid and
Malaga. To meet, speak and inspire the children, parents and doctors about
physical activity solutions in and outside the hospital. Andre said "Giving them a feeling there is a healthy
future possible after the transplant was a wonderful experience”.
André 's positive attitude,
his athletic achievements and his commitment to promoting organ donation is
inspiring. And makes the "RECYCLE ME” movement more than true!”
Keep up the good work André!
You are truly a man of many talents, warm hearted, full of life an inspiration
to all of us!
Remember organ donation only
works if we unite together, yours and others lives can be saved if we all sign
up as organ donors. In the photo André is wearing a RECYCLE ME
T-shirt to promote Organ Donation Awareness.
Links to
organisations etc., mentioned in text:
Gift of life https://www.giftoflife.org/
The World Transplant Games https://www.facebook.com/officialworldtransplantgames/
European Heart Lung Transplant
Federation http://www.eu-patient.eu/Members/The-EPF-Members/Full-Membership/European-Heart-and-Lung-Transplant-Federation/
The European Lung Foundation
Award (ELF) http://www.europeanlung.org/en/about-us/awards/
Life for Kids https://www.facebook.com/lifeforkids.org/
Life for Kids https://www.facebook.com/lifeforkids.org/
