Boy who received transplant from grandad 'excited' for games

Henry (pictured with dad Ben) will take part in the British Transplant Games in Nottingham

A boy who doctors feared would never walk, talk or see is "excited" as he prepares for an athletics contest.

Henry, from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, was 18 months old when he underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, with his grandad David donating the organ.

He suffered complications during the operation and a stroke while in intensive care.

But the six-year-old defied fears over his future and will now take part in the British Transplant Games in Nottingham.

Henry, who was one of the youngest competitors at last year's event, will take part in the ball throw, cup stacking, donor run and obstacle course.

He said he was "excited" to participate, especially as his grandfather would also be among the competitors.

"He saved my life," he said.

Henry's parents discovered he would need a transplant due to kidney damage while he was still in the womb, and at birth his kidney function was about 6% of normal levels.

His father Ben and grandfather David were both matches for a transplant, which took place at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

However, he experienced problems during the operation, including a perforated bowel, and was in a coma for 16 days due to swelling.

'Normal six-year-old boy'

He spent three weeks in children's intensive care, where he suffered a stroke and his parents were told he may never walk, talk or see again.

Ben - who is due to step in if Henry needs another kidney transplant later in life - said the family was so proud of how he had dealt with his condition, adding the British Transplant Games "gives him a place of belonging".

"I think it's quite normal for him because it's something he was born with, he doesn't really know [anything] different," he said.

"He's able to run around and be a normal six-year-old boy, and that's the best thing that we could ask for."

The British Transplant Games have been running for more than 40 years with the aim of showing the benefits of transplantation, encouraging patients to regain fitness and increasing awareness of the need for more people to join the donation register.

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