Michael Gibbons, Age 88, North Yorkshire, Leeds Adults, Kidney Transplant
Michael was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 55 out of the blue. He was unaware of any side issues or symptoms and continued to live life as normal. However, he began to experience symptoms including malaise, nausea and energy reduction, and was put onto dialysis in 2005. While on dialysis, Michael was made aware of the British Transplant Games by a senior renal nurse in the hospital, as he had always been a keen sportsman.
He was put onto the transplant list but with no guaranteed availability, nor a successful outcome. While on dialysis, Michael returned to a modicum of fitness. In 2007, Michael’s wife Ann donated one of her kidneys, and he was able to return to ‘normal’ life.
Michael has been attending the Transplant Games ever since and continues to have aims and ambitions – in 2024 he was the oldest competitor, aged 88!
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