Opening Ceremony Puts ‘Miracle of Life’ on Center Stage at 2024 Transplant Games in Birmingham

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times Rodney Woodall, a cancer survivor, 20-year retired police officer, donor family member, received a heart transplant in August 2020 but said that wasn’t the “hardest” part of his journey. “Last year July 18, 2023, I lost my son. The hardest thing I had to do in life was watch my son die … my son, J.J., was inspired by all of us,” Woodall said Saturday during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Transplant Games of America in Birmingham. “He saw somebody gave their life for his dad to live.” Jaydon “J.J.” Woodall was a registered organ donor and after his passing, one kidney each went to two adults in Illinois and Missouri. “When I was in the hospital having my transplant, he was signing the back of his driver’s license; he wanted to be a donor not for me, but he saw how this great community came together to support his dad,” said Woodall. A pair of 5K participants pose following the Run/Walk in downtown Birmingham. (Jenn Boverhof Photo) Saturday marked the official start of the 2024 Transplant Games of America which features athletes from all 50 states who have helped with or...