'Miracle" kidney recipient (11) goes to UK Transplant Games

An 11 year-old Slane girl whose life was transformed by a kidney transplant when she was just six years-old will be the youngest competitor in the UK Transplant Games, which will take place in Sheffield from 7th-11th August. For the parents of Courtney Kealy from Stanley Heights in Slane, it is nothing short of a miracle to see her excitedly preparing for the games. Courtney was the first child ever to have a kidney transplant at Temple Street Children"s Hospital in Dublin when she received her new kidney in the spring of 2003. A daughter of Paul Kealy and Fiona Lynch, she is one of four children with an older sister, Charlene who is 17, a younger sister Kerri (4) and little brother Cian (3). Courtney is a pupil of Slane National Scool. She is now the youngest of the eight members of the Junior Transplant team who will represent Ireland at the games. Her mother says that Courtney"s quality of life has improved dramatically since her transplant. 'She was born with kidney failure and had been on dialysis from she was born and spent most of her time in hospital. Now she is in great health and is really looking forward to the games,' she said. Courtney"s family will be travelling with her to Sheffield when which she will take part in the badminton singles, ball-throw, 50m race and table tennis events. The participants in the games range in age from 11 to 16 years and there are 18 sports activities covered, including swimming, track and field, bowling, tennis, table tennis, golf, cycling and archery. The 31st UK Transplant Games will involve almost 1,000 transplant recipients and an estimated 2,000 supporters. The aim of the games is to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness, showcase the benefits of organ transplantation and promote awareness of the ongoing need for organ donation for transplantation. This will be the first year for Ireland send a junior team abroad to the Transplant Games and a large contingent of supporters, including family members of the young athletes, will travel to Sheffield. The Irish Kidney Association in partnership with the Children"s University Hospital, Temple Street, are managing and co-ordinating the junior team"s involvement at the UK games, which are organised by Transplant Sport UK. The Irish Junior"s team manager, Colin White, who will also be managing the seniors transplant and dialysis team at the European Games in Germany later this year, will be assisted in the management and care of the young athletes by two representatives of Temple Street, Marie O"Connell, advance nurse practitioner and Olive Kelly, play specialist. Speaking about the junior team"s impending participation in the UK Games, Colin White said that 'through their involvement in events such as our National Transplant and Dialysis Games and the UK Transplant Games, our juniors are offering hope to those still awaiting an organ transplant and inspiration to those considering organ donation. I look forward to forming a junior team to join our seniors for next year"s World Transplant Games in Australia.' The Senior Irish team will be taking part in the European Transplant and Dialysis Games which will take place in Wurzburg, Germany, from 31st August-7th September. After a successful bid by the Irish Kidney Association, Ireland looks forward to hosting this major biennial sporting event in 2010.