A mother and her son, to whom she donated one of her kidneys, participated in the World Transplant Winter Games last week (3-8 March).
Alex Baddock joined hundreds of others from 21 countries in Italy, competing in slalom, parallel slalom, giant slalom and Super G, while mum Julie participated in ski racing.
A BBC report recounts the trials the family from Ruthin, Denbighshire, faced when young Alex faced kidney failure.
The first few years involved infusion therapy, and when his kidneys failed, he had to have regular dialysis.
He would need a transplant to live a normal life, and after testing, it was found that his parents were matches.
However, he had to wait until he was tall enough to accept an adult organ.
This moment came when Alex was three – and Julie immediately stepped in to donate one of her own kidneys.
Alex, now 12, and Julie represented their country on the slopes of Bormio, Italy, in the World Transplant Winter Games last week.
Alex’s journey began with dialysis and overnight care, but his love for skiing has been a beacon of hope.
Despite the challenges, he started skiing at the age of four, just a year after his life-saving transplant.
His parents never imagined he’d be hitting the slopes.
The road to recovery was daunting, with moments of fear and uncertainty. But Julie’s nerves turned to relief when Alex emerged from surgery with newfound energy.
The remarkable transformation allowed them to embrace skiing and participate in events like the British Transplant Games.
Taking their talents to the international stage last week, they competed in events like the giant slalom at the World Transplant Winter Games.
Their story of resilience and strength exemplifies the spirit of the games, where transplant recipients worldwide come together to celebrate life and athleticism.
19 members of the British team have undergone transplants, along with living donors and donor family members.
The BBC reports that Alex said competing in the games against other children his age reminds him that he is ‘not the only one’ and that ‘loads of other people’ have been through transplants.
