TWO CUMBRIANS who have undergone an organ transplant have triumphantly brought back medals from the European Transplant Games.
Becky Seaton from Carlisle and Stephen Hancock from Bootle have recently returned from the European Transplant and Dialysis Games which were held in the UK for the first time.
There were over 450 organ transplant recipients and dialysis patients from over 25 countries taking part in a week of sport covering a wide range of events such as football, swimming, cycling and archery.
It was a successful competition for the pair who managed to gain medals in each of their sports; Becky winning two silver and a gold in athletics together with bronze in pétanque, whilst Stephen won bronze in both the team and individual golf.
Becky trains at the Sheepmount Athletics Stadium, Carlisle and Riverside Fitness, Wetheral with coach Lauren Glencross, with Stephen being a keen member of Seascale golf club.
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Stephen feels that transplant sport be it at British, European or World level is very special: "Competition is extremely fierce but we all know that for each and every one of us the real success is not a medal but that we are alive and fit enough to take part," he said.
Stephen received a kidney transplant due to congenital kidney disease, whilst Becky had a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant due to the long term effects of type 1 diabetes. Becky was struggling prior to her transplant as the diabetes was affecting her eyes, nerves, kidney and other organs; Stephen was attached to a dialysis machine for 10.5 hours each night at home.
"You know you are unwell, feeling nauseous and tired all the time with lots of restrictions on what you can eat and drink, but it is only after the transplant and you start to truly live again that you realise just how poorly you were”.
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"Normality for others doesn’t feel normal for me, to be with my partner Jamie and to be a mum to my sons Josh and Leo as they grow up, to work at Scotby Primary School, to not have to check my blood sugar levels, absolutely nothing is taken for granted. I just want to say yes to every opportunity that life brings," Becky said.
The pair remain committed to encouraging people to sign up to the organ donor register and to let their loved ones know their wishes.
"We are the lucky ones, we desperately wish that more people on the transplant waiting list, some of whom will sadly run out of time, are also given the second chance of life," Becky said.
As for the future neither has any intention of slowing down. The British Transplant Games will be in Coventry in 2023 and both have been selected for the British team for the World Transplant Games in Australia next year.
To find out more about organ donation or to register your wishes on the organ donor register: www.organdonation.nhs.uk
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