Jack Harding, Sophie Elmore-Ault and Simon Elmore are taking part in Nottingham Hospital's Charity Skydive!Jumping out of a plane at over 10,000 feet, flying through the clouds at 120mph all to raise funds for Nottingham's Hospitals.

Why are we doing this?

To support families, after they have had an Organ Transplant, to get Active, Physically and Mentally😊

Who is doing this - Sophie (Simons daughter) is a nurse at Nottingham City University Hospital and wants to give back what they gave to her... her dad 🥰 Jack (Sophie’s partner) - It's such a privilege to be able to do this jump for such an amazing cause. Simon is an inspiration and to do this for a charity that means so much to him and Sophie is just fantastic. Also this is a plus to see a bit more of the world 🤣

My Journey Simon Elmore – What can be achieved with an Organ Donation! 

 I had Kidney failure at the age of 33. My Kidneys failed out of the blue due to high blood pressure (230/180) over 12 years ago. The world ended! I went into depression for 3 years and hated everyone. I was not a nice person. I started on Peritoneal Dialysis (which meant I was only allowed 1lt of fluid intake per day). I lived in my dressing gown 4 days in a row… Then out drinking with the boys 3 nights at the weekend and drank on average 10/11 pints of… Vodka & Red bull! I had 2 hospital stays, because of Peritonitis (major infection of the area surrounding my organs). The 3rd time nearly killed me! I was told you are going onto Haemodialysis which meant going into Royal Derby, dialysing, which you would expect me to change after 3 years… Nope, still carried on only this time they had to remove 4-6lts of fluid each session, as my body was that bad with Gout (not able to stand on my foot) and Raynaud’s (not able to feel my fingers and go white/purple) every session was painful, to the point of passing out too. I got married, got a job, so I worked and travelled 80 hours per week from 1 Feb 2012 to January 12 2013 as well as dialysis still 19.00 – 23.30… then drive home for 4 hours sleep before off to work again at 04.30. January 12th, 2013 I at 37 had a full Stroke which stopped my speech for 30 hours. Then I was diagnosed with Endocarditis and a hole in my Heart Valve. Just to top it off also told the vegetation could come away at any time and kill me (bad yes but gets worse) they can’t operate until the antibiotics were taken over the next 6 weeks (hoping I wake up every day. This was the start of my Insomnia). Had the operation, died Twice, kept under a general anaesthetic for an extra 12 hours, eventually back to Royal Derby for 7 months in hospital with - my Heart had stopped and started (during the operation I died for 1 minute then2 minutes), Dialysis arm backfilling to the point I got told I will lose my finger and possibly my right hand, another operation to tie off artery (didn’t work), an operation to tie off the fistula and put a temporary one in groin. The long-term fistula was then operated on my left arm (it worked, then 18 months of physio for hand/finger with many more infections on the hand). Released for weekend then rushed in with hypertension and couldn’t breathe… My wife was then pulled aside and told “He has 30 minutes to improve or will not last the night”. Still, here now with a passion to help others and encourage them to toe the line and understand, there is hope even when you want to give up! 2014 had the chance to take my wife and stepson away to say thank you… paid for by the Brilliant BKPA (with massive thanks). On November 29the 2014 I applied for the Transplant Sport Kids & Teens Role to try and give something back (even though I was Dialysing 4 times a week at this point I was positive within the next 2 months I would have a Kidney and be fit to work by March.

Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful, but now even more determined to be a part of the Transplant Sport Family. On the 21st of January 2015, (a strange afternoon) I had to convince my Mother-in-Law, that the holiday she had booked in 5 months I would have a Kidney for. That same night at 18.30 my turns up and says, ‘I am going to donate you my Kidney’. At this point I call the Transplant Unit and leave an answerphone message ‘Hi Guys it’s Simon Elmore and I need a Kidney very soon or my step-mum isn’t going to be happy with me. But in all seriousness my Dad wants to start the process on a Living Donor, give me a call tomorrow and we will have a chat, thanks Simon’ The next day while on Dialysis (as always) I got THE CALL. Very surreal moment and my first thought was… • This is going to work • I am going to compete in the British Transplant Games in Newcastle in 6 Months & 6 Days, then I am going to get selected for the World Transplant Games in Argentina the following Month, get a Gold Medal and give it to my Organ Donor Family as soon as I can… • Make my Donor Proud My first milestone after getting my Kidney was to get out of bed on day 3 and walk 3.5 miles around the Nottingham City Hospital. My only focus at this point was the World Transplant Games! March 30th, 2015 I was given the all clear to train for my Events (brilliant feeling I can do sports again and compete with others). April 13th, 2015 my mum Died. She had been very ill but kept fighting until she knew my Kidney worked well and it would change my life. 3 days later I turned 40, I celebrated my mum’s life and her determination to do her best and never quit! I chose sports I had never Coached in my past:- 10 pin bowling (Started practicing 1 April not good very weak). Flat Bowls (first session indoors on April 16th My Birthday loved it). Archery (as a family me/my wife 31/stepson 9 went to learn how to do Archery). Table Tennis (spoke to a chap from the Derbyshire TT organisation who put me in contact with someone who played (Melissa Slaney a Transplant Patient too). So we met on the first time 7th May (I had lots of room for improvement). Cricket Ball Throw (as my knees and ankles are week I went to the park with a tape measure and got 45m so need more practice). 4×100 relay (is the last Event and I will start this training a month before) My next milestone was competing at the Transplant Team Racquets Event at Warrington/Widnes for Table Tennis… I got 2 Silver Medals (that was a shock) I cannot put into words the amazing change physically I have! My Donor and family have given me the chance to live again and for the first time I can now give my wife the husband she deserves.

I am so grateful to Nottingham city hospital which changed my life forever❤

Want to know more...

https://www.facebook.com/simon.elmore.9