Me and my journey through kidney disease . . . .

Yesterday marked the day of my diagnoses, nine years ago!  I discovered that night that I had a 6% kidney function with a blood pressure of 250/150 and would need dialysis and/or a transplant to live. So much has happened in those nine years. I’ve been on dialysis, been fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant with the kidney coming from my mum, participated in the British Transplant Games on five occasions and represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World Transplant Games twice! I am very delighted to be able to say that my kidney is behaving very well and is consistently working  like a little trooper! My Transplant will be nine years old on the 11th January 2020! I’m looking forward to celebrating with mum on that day! Although I was unable to attend the British Transplant Games last year, I was there this year catching up with my transplant family old and new.  The games were in Newport and very successful. I enter the games with Plymouth Team as my Tr

So here we are on the first day of Organ Donation Week and seven years since I was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure and it feels like a lifetime ago! So what's been going on over the past year? Harry   Trev and I decided the time had come to hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet in our home and we would now like to introduce you to Harry who joined our home on the 21st January. He has made us so happy and is keeping us on our toes  ❤️ Harry at 8 weeks old Harry has had an enormous impact on our lives in the short time he has been with us, there is so much fun and laughter all of the time as we watch his antics and go for long walks along the fabulous Cornish coastline. Harry is now nine months old and he comes everywhere with us :-)  Harry and I at the end of August Second World Transplant Games I had the honour of being selected to represent team GB at the World Transplant Games once again and they were held in Malaga

Another year has passed with the gift of life which I received from mum six years ago! It has been a year of ups and downs, with actually way too many downs. The Pirate FM Awards In April last year I had the honour of receiving the "Sporting Achievement Award" at the Pirate FM Local Hero Awards.  Trev had put my name forward unknowingly to me and I won!  You can read more in my blog HERE .   At the awards ceremony Poorly Mum At the Pirate FM awards ceremony, mum wasn't very well.  In fact she wasn't well for a very long time with several long stays in hospital and two operations.  Mum was not actually beginning to feel better until late August.  I'm pleased to report that mum is back to her normal self again now. Mum & I at Christmas The British Transplant Games The British Transplant Games were in Liverpool last year at the end of July.  As is always the case, the Plymouth Team was small but mighty!  Winning 25 medals between jus

It  is with great sadness that I am writing this blog. My Dad, Terry Carroll, passed away on the 31st August following a cardiac arrest on Helston Bowling Green on the 24th August. We take great comfort in the fact that he was doing what he loved. Dad was taken to hospital by air ambulance and had his heart restarted, however, his brain was without oxygen for too long and we were told by the doctors that he was very unlikely to survive.   After three days with no response from dad, the doctor introduced us to the donor nurse. As you know, all of my family are advocates for organ donation, but we never thought for a minute that we would be on the other side of that conversation. Dad had been on the donor register for many years, long before I was unwell, and had made his wishes very clear, therefore we said yes.   The fact that dad wished to donate his organs meant that there was a delay before the doctors took dad off his ventilator, 12 hours or so.  We discovered that dad

On the 23rd March I had a surprise call from Pirate FM .  Unknowingly to me, Trevor had nominated me for a Pirate FM Local Hero Award for Sporting Achievement and I had won!!  Trevor and I were filmed on the 6th April by Pirate FM and they created this clip to show at the awards ceremony as to why I had won this award: Trevor and I were given four tickets to the black tie awards ceremony so we took along my mum, without whom I wouldn't have won the award and my brother Jon. We arrived at the Tregenna Castle Hotel at 7pm where I was presented with a sash to show that I was one of the winners for the night and we then went into the lounge where there was champagne and nibbles on tap! Trev, Me, Mum and Jon on arrival at the awards After the drinks reception we proceeded through to dinner.  Each table had one award winner, the sponsor of that award and representatives from Pirate FM. We had a lovely meal and were then entertained by Stooshe before the

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES! Another year has passed but this year with several significant milestones!    In August I reached the ripe old age of 40!  I have no idea how I got so old so very quick!  Where has the time gone!   In December I celebrated my 10th year working with/for Frugi  they started out as one of my clients when I was self employed and now I'm their full time Finance Director.  A job I absolutely love!  (Most days!!)   Earlier this month Trev and I celebrated 15 years together!  We have such a laugh all of the time, no day is ever dull!   Finally today is the fifth anniversary of my kidney transplant, an important day in my calendar.  Everyday I live without the need for dialysis is such a gift.    I am fit, healthy and live everyday to the full.  I am so very privileged and wouldn't be in this position without my mum, my donor.  Thank you mum.   Mum and I at the British Transplant Games - August 2015 THE WORLD TRANSPLANT GAMES Last