Albie had a liver transplant in December 2021 when he was 8 years old, having been diagnosed with acute liver failure. He was a happy, healthy, active little boy, until the November, when completely out of the blue I noticed he had jaundice, just in his eyes to begin with, but rapidly spread to his whole body. He was admitted to our local hospital, and underwent so many tests to try to find out the cause of the jaundice. No explanation was found, but his body was deteriorating and his liver was failing. He was blue lighted to King’s hospital paediatric liver specialists. He was there for less than a week before he was listed for transplant. It was the most harrowing, frightening experience to be told this is what my little boy had to go through. He was so poorly, I was desperate for the doctors to do whatever was necessary to make him better. He received his transplant 72 hours later, having been placed in an induced coma to preserve his body and brain due to acute liver failure. It was not without its ups and downs, we remained in hospital for 5 weeks in total, but he recovered enough for us to make it home just in time for Christmas to spend it with Albie’s brothers! I am eternally grateful for the surgeons and staff at kings hospital and of course his donor for saving my little boy’s life. He has to take medication for the rest of his life, which have some unpleasant side effects, he has to have regular hospital trips and blood tests, but he continues to do it all with a cheeky grin on his face. This year has been especially challenging for Albie as he has been ill a lot and has had many trips to the doctors and hospital. This has meant he’s missed a lot of school again, which causes other issues. One of the many difficulties of being on immuno suppressants means he catches things and his body can’t fight it as easily as other children his age. Albie is looking forward to taking part in his second transplant games in Nottingham. He is very excited to be taking part in the swimming, tennis and football again and we will be joining him as a family to take part in the donor run. It will be great to meet up with the friends we made last year and new families who ‘just get it’. It’s especially good for Albie’s older brothers as they get to take part in the games and make new friends as well as this new way of life has a huge impact on them too.

King’s runs the largest liver transplantation programme in Europe and carries out around 50 paediatric transplants per year. Although most children return to a normal life after transplant, they are left with scars, both physical and emotional.

Transplants are a treatment, not a cure. The children and young people on our team usually need lifelong medication, they have frequent hospital appointments, blood tests and other procedures, and are more susceptible to illness and infection.

For our young people the differences from their peers can make them feel isolated, and medical appointments and treatments can make it feel that they have no control over their own bodies. This can lead to poor body image and carries a risk of negative behavioural health outcomes, such as nonadherence to medication, missed medical appointments, and poor health.

Our team is about fun, friendship, and building vital support networks. Enabling children and young people to know they are not alone, they are not the only ones with scars and daily medication, or experiencing the side effects of transplantation.

Being part of the team provides support long after the event, and creates lifelong memories. Our team members come from across the UK, and beyond, and the Games are an important way to bring our families together. We want to reach more families and enable more children and young people to attend and share the benefits.

Please visit our social media to see quotes from families about how important the Games are to them. https://www.instagram.com/kingschildrensteam/

To find out more about the team please email team manager Jo Ramsay at kingschildrenstt@gmail.com.

For more information on the charity's support for the team please visit https://supportkings.org.uk/what-you-make-possible/difference-were-making/british-transplant-games.

We are fundraising for the British Transplant Games Fund D2338.

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