Boy whose life was saved as a baby thrives at British Transplant Games

A boy whose life was saved by a liver transplant after being diagnosed with cancer when just five months old has won medals at a special sporting event.

Seven-year-old William Swan-Dennis took home silver and bronze medals at the British Transplant Games, held in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, at the weekend.

William was just a few months old when, in June 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer in his liver. A desperate search for a donor then followed, with parents Angela and Ric told that if the tumour grew larger than 5cm their son could not survive. Thankfully, a donor was found in time.

William, of Collingham, requires regular health check-ups and must take anti-rejection drugs for his new liver but has thrived athletically and plays football for a local team.

His family was contacted by British Transplant Games organisers earlier this year and over the course of the weekend William competed in a number of events.

“We found the event quite emotional,” said Angela.

“You saw so many people who’d had a second chance at life.

“Every child was given a glow bracelet with a note from the family of an organ donor which read: We have lost the light of our lives, but draw comfort knowing that yours has been rekindled.

“William is an active child anyway, but he really enjoyed the games. He won silver in the 50-metre sprint and bronze in the five-a-side football event.

“Even though he won these medals, he was happiest when his friends were winning.”

'It was devastating'

Each competitor represented the hospital where they were treated, which meant that William took part for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Angela said that William’s diagnosis, especially given his exceptionally young age, was traumatic for the family.

“It was devastating,” she said. “He was given chemotherapy treatment but because he was a baby, he struggled.

“All of his brothers and sisters – Thomas, Lucie and Emily – were sent to live with their grandparents because of the risk that William would catch a cold from one of them.

“I also found out that I was pregnant during this time (with Belle, born in February 2011), and things were very stressful.

“William was placed on the transplant list. When we received the call to say that a donor had been found, neither myself nor William’s dad could talk, we were so overcome and we had to pass the phone to someone else.

“We had to get to the hospital within two hours – we would have even been given a police escort if needed.

“Because William was a baby, he was given half a liver – the other half was given to an adult in Cambridge.

“It was a 15-year-old boy whose organs were donated, and I would definitely like to write to his family.”

The British Transplant Games, first held in Portsmouth in 1978, encourage transplant patients to regain fitness while encouraging members of the public to join the NHS organ donation register.

Next year’s event will be held in Birmingham.