MUSCATINE, Iowa —Jamie Heuer, 41, of Muscatine was diagnosed with leukemia on May 16, 2000.

“I started out with cancer,” he said. “I had a bone marrow transplant in 2000 and a kidney transplant in 2004.”

The experience eventually helped push Heuer to help organize the annual Iowa Transplant Open Golf Tournament. The golf tournament and fundraiser raises awareness and money for organ and tissue donation. It will also help Team Iowa members afford to participate in the 2010 Trans-plant Games in Madison, Wis., which are sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation.

Because of his leukemia, patience was an important part of Heuer’s time as a patient. He had to wait to receive a kidney because he needed to be strong and healthy.

Heuer received both his marrow and organ transplants from his brother, Bret Heuer, 43, of Muscatine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Since receiving his organ transplant, his recovery has gone well.

Jamie Heuer, who owns Heuer Construction, a Muscatine-based concrete construction company, was able to return to work a month after received his brother’s kidney.

“I am 100 percent better,” he said. “I am not on anti-rejection medicine because both (transplants were) from my brother.”

The only thing he is required to do is go to yearly checkups, Jamie Heuer said.

This year, he was contacted by Kim Burdakin, chairwoman of the Iowa Transplant Open committee.

“I met Jamie at church. I had a liver transplant also, so I had a connection with him” said Burdakin, who recruited him to help raise awareness, which can help other transplant patients.

This is the third year for the golf tournament, which is open to the public. It is a fundraiser and way to raise awareness for organ transplants and donors, Burdakin said. She said everyone on the committee has been affected by organ donation.

And they aren’t alone. In Iowa, there are 559 people who are on a waiting list for organ transplants.

“Over 102,000 people are waiting for transplant donations in the United States” Burdakin said. “We all have our own unique stories.”

Details

What: Iowa Transplant Open

Who: The event is open to the public.

When: Tee times begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, with a dinner reception at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Geneva Golf and Country Club, 3100 Bidwell Road.

Cost for golf and dinner: $125 per individual, $500 for a foursome.

Details: Activities will include a live and silent auction, contests and prizes. Sports play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin, “the voice of the Hawkeyes,” will serve as master of ceremonies.

For information: Call Doug Stewart at 563-506-3389. Registration forms are available online at http://www.myangelfoundation.org/Iowa%20Transplant%20Open%2009_%234.pdf