The Armed Forces Transplant Team: Honoring Service and Second Chances

A new chapter in transplant community history is being written, and it is wearing the uniform of honor. The Transplant Life Foundation is proud to introduce the United States Armed Forces Transplant Team, a part of its growing HonorLife: Veteran and Active Duty Initiative. This new team will make its official debut at the 2026 Transplant Games in Denver, Colorado, uniting current and former military members and their supporters in a powerful show of strength, resilience, and shared purpose.

This groundbreaking team is managed by Sharyn Kreitzer, Executive Director of DOVE (Donor Outreach for Veterans, Corp.), an organization dedicated to connecting living kidney donors to veterans in need. She is joined by co-manager Chad Carroll, an Army Veteran and Director of Donate Life Texas, a longtime transplant advocate and leader in donor registration initiatives. Together, Sharyn and Chad bring decades of experience in transplant advocacy, service member support, and community building to this inspiring endeavor.

“The HonorLife Initiative is about more than recognizing service. It is about uniting the transplant and military communities in a shared mission of resilience, healing, and hope. Through the United States Armed Forces Transplant Team, we are honoring the lives saved, the lives given, and the unbreakable bond of those who serve,” said Beth Ann Hart, Military Spouse and HonorLife Initiative Lead with the Transplant Life Foundation.

Who Can Join?

The U.S. Armed Forces Transplant Team proudly welcomes participants from all branches of the military. To be eligible, individuals must be one of the following:

• A transplant recipient, living donor, or donor family member who has served or is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or who has donated to a service member
• A family member or caregiver with an affiliation to the U.S. military

This inclusive structure ensures that every person touched by the Armed Forces and the transplant journey can find a place on the team, whether stepping onto the competition floor, cheering from the sidelines, or advocating for donation awareness across the country.

A Legacy of Resilience

Transplant recipients and donors in the military community exemplify the values that define both service and recovery: sacrifice, strength, and perseverance. This team creates a national platform where those stories can be seen, heard, and celebrated.

The 2026 Transplant Games will be a moment of pride as the U.S. Armed Forces Transplant Team marches forward under one flag, representing the lives saved, the gifts given, and the power of service beyond the battlefield.

The Transplant Life Foundation and the Games

The Transplant Life Foundation is the driving force behind the Transplant Games of America, the largest celebration of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Every two years, thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, and supporters come together to compete, remember, and inspire. In 2026, the Games will be held in Denver, Colorado, bringing athletes and advocates from across the globe to highlight the power of second chances. The inclusion of the United States Armed Forces Transplant Team will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary connection between military service and the gift of life, creating an inspiring chapter in this international celebration.

Get Involved

Interested in joining the team or supporting its mission?

Whether you are a veteran, a donor family, or an ally committed to honoring this unique community, the United States Armed Forces Transplant Team offers a place to connect, compete, and carry the message of donation and recovery to new heights.

Together, we honor the gift of life and the lives dedicated to service.