John-Paul Rooney, a schoolboy from Glasgow, received a kidney donation from his father at the age of three and a half. Thanks to the transplant, he was able to stop dialysis and live a normal childhood. Now 12 years old, John-Paul competes annually for Glasgow at the British Transplant Games, a friendly sporting event that highlights the benefits of transplant operations and promotes fitness for transplant patients. John-Paul and his father have been attending the games together since 2015, using the event as an opportunity to connect with other families who have undergone similar experiences.
The games provide a sense of normalcy for transplant patients, as everyone attending is in the same position. John-Paul, who stands out at school due to his medical history, feels like everyone is the same as him at the games. The event allows him to share experiences with families from all over the UK. John-Paul’s father expressed gratitude to Diane King, a clinical nurse specialist who fundraises for the event and set up the Glasgow team. Thanks to funding support and kit from organizations like Kidney Kids Scotland and the Renal Unit Fund, the team is able to attend the games.
