Weymouth mum looking to compete at Transplant Games

Katrina Vernon, who lives in Weymouth, was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2012 and was told she shouldn't try for children.

She was originally given the all-clear but then her kidneys failed a couple of years later. She was sent for dialysis, with three hospital visits a week.

Mrs Vernon said: “One day I went to A+E because I knew something was not quite right but I did not know how serious it was.

“At a later date I got some function back, which confused doctors, and then at Christmas in 2014 I had to go back for dialysis and a blood transfusion.

“I then waited 15 months for a transplant, having been told it could take between two and ten years for a match.”

The 36-year-old travelled to Bristol in 2016 to get her kidney transplant and has since made a full recovery.

She later had what she describes as her ‘miracle baby’ who arrived on December 14 2018 via a C-section.

Following the birth of her daughter and the pandemic, in which Mrs Vernon had to isolate for 18 months due to being classed at risk, she decided she wanted to do something as a sign of how far she’d come.is looking to compete in the Transplant Games.

“Having got through the pandemic, which I had to isolate throughout, and recovered from having my daughter I decided I wanted to give it a go and do it,” added Mrs Vernon.

"With the Transplant Games there is a summer one then the world event, as well as a winter games, and I want to do archery because it is something I did when I was younger.

"I’m hoping to qualify for the event in 2023."

The Transplant Games aim to demonstrate the benefits of transplantation and encourages patients to regain to fitness while increasing public awareness of the need for donations by hosting an international tournament of sports events.

As of February this year 4,658 people across the UK are waiting for a new kidney; including 98 children.

Further information about organ donation can be found via the NHS website.