Remarkable transplant athletes take on national Games

Athletes from across Guy’s and St Thomas’ competed in this year’s annual British Transplant Games in Sheffield, including a team from Harefield Hospital.

The Harefield Hamsters team was made up of 28 heart and lung transplant patients. They competed and won medals in a wide variety of events such as archery, squash, swimming and running.

The British Transplant Games attracts hundreds of participants – both adults and children – who have undergone organ transplantation.

Meet some of Harefield’s athletes:

Peter Knox

Peter, 36, is the chairperson and team manager for the Harefield Hamsters and has been competing in the British Transplant Games since 2019. He has won gold medals in these and the European and World Transplant Games. He competes in squash and tennis – sports he has been passionate about since childhood.

Peter says: “I had a double lung transplant at Harefield 9 years ago at the age of 26. I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth – it’s a rare genetic condition that, over time, severely damaged my lungs.

“Before my transplant I felt terrible. I could barely walk 20 yards, needed round the clock care from my parents and was pretty depressed – I didn't feel I had much to live for.

“After the transplant my scar got an infection, which slowed down my recovery because I needed several different treatments and eventually reconstructive surgery. But as a lifelong squash player, getting back on the court, and competing in the Games was a big motivation.

“Now my life is fantastic. I've been really privileged to meet lots of amazing people from all round the world through the Games. This year Harefield has 28 competitors, which is really exciting – it’s more than we’ve had in recent years.”

Peter is an advocate for the transformative power of sport for people who have had a transplant. He says: “I understand how low you can get in those situations. But never give up hope. The team at Harefield and across the NHS are always working to give you the best chance at a healthy future, and they can perform miracles.”

Sam Cove

In her 30s, Sam was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), an inherited heart muscle disorder that damages the heart's pumping ability and causes dangerous, potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythms.

She explains: “Just after I turned 30, I was out running and felt like I had been kicked in the chest by a horse. I couldn't breathe and my pulse was racing. Even after sitting down and trying to drink some water it didn't calm down. I was taken to hospital and eventually diagnosed with ARVC. Unfortunately, over the last ten years medication and lifestyle changes didn't control the irregular rhythms and despite various interventions, my heart function deteriorated.”

Sam went on the waiting list for a heart transplant 4 days after she turned 40, and underwent transplantation in May last year.

She says: “Before my transplant I couldn't walk to the end of my drive. I lived in fear of moving too much in case I set off an irregular rhythm and had to be shocked. I used a mobility scooter for day-to-day activities, but still felt like a passenger in my life.

“Since my transplant I can watch my son play sport, I can go to the shops with my daughter, I can be mum again. There are still modifications but I don't have to be on the sidelines anymore.”

Sam is competing in the 3km walk at the Games. She says: “My family is very sporty and exercise has been such a barrier in my life for the last ten years. I have a huge fear of running because of how I became ill. I wanted to face that fear.”

Sam has also entered the ‘Donor Run’ – a special public event at the British Transplant Games where transplant recipients, live donors, donor families, and supporters can run or walk together to raise awareness for organ and stem cell donation.

Sha adds: “I received a letter from my donor’s family a little while ago and would like to spend time during the Games honouring her decision and thinking of her family.”

Christine Wright

Christine is competing in the Games this year for the first time.

She says: “I have signed up for Petanque - the easy bit. And 50 metres freestyle swimming - the hard bit. I have been back at the gym for about a year but only got back into the pool this month. Quite a revelation as I have stronger muscles than I have ever had!”

Christine received her heart transplant in October 2022. She was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy just over 10 years earlier. It is a hereditary condition that thickens the heart muscle over time, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.

She explains: “I lived my life pretty normally as a child. I was active – swimming, ballet, hockey, and in later years running, skiing and gym. But I was someone who fainted frequently. I remember quite vividly the first time I fainted I was aged 4, I split my head open as a result. Nothing was ever checked to find out why I fainted, but back then, 1962, it just wasn't. In fact, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was only identified after 1958 – the year I was born.”

After picking up a hamstring injury and noticing she wasn’t recovering as expected, experiencing breathlessness, Christine went to a rapid access heart clinic, where clinicians identified atrial fibrillation, putting her at high risk of stroke. She received cardiology care at both St Peter’s and St George’s Hospitals, but her condition worsened and was referred to Harefield Hospital in 2018.

Over the next four years, Christine’s clinical team supported her heart with medication to help lower the blood pressure. She recalls: “I was classed as needing palliative care. Not words I wished to hear. But in 2022 I was reviewed by consultants and the pressure had improved. I was viable for transplant. I can't remember what I said, but I know I just beamed.”

A suitable donor heart was found in October 2022. Christine says: “I was prepped and headed down to theatre with a wave and ‘I'm off’ shout to other patients on Fir Tree ward. I received my new heart around 5.30am, so I'm told. And that was the start of my recovery!”