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image source, julie baddock
Alex started skiing at the age of 4
- author, Matthew Bassett
- role, BBC news
When Alex Baddock’s kidneys failed, his mother did what most parents do and donated one of her kidneys.
However, the transplant had to wait until the child was 3 years old. This meant that he spent most of his childhood on dialysis and needed nighttime nursing care.
Their goal was simply to live a normal life, but now, nine years later, 12-year-old Alex and his mother Julie, from Ruthin, Denbighshire, are celebrating their unique bond through one of their passions: skiing. I’m trying.
image source, julie baddock
Alex dreams of staying healthy and plans to run his own business.
Alex, who competes in events such as giant slalom, started skiing at the age of four, just one year after his transplant.
Even being able to go on the slopes was more than his parents, Julie and Howard, could have ever imagined after his birth.
Three days after birth, she was transferred to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, which has a specialist kidney ward.
Julie, 47, said: “There were moments where I just hoped that Alex was okay and that all the treatments were going well.”
“Sometimes the huge things that were going to happen hit us and we were completely overwhelmed thinking about it all.”
For the first few years, he required IV therapy and when his kidneys failed, he had to undergo regular dialysis.
He needed a transplant to lead a normal life, and tests revealed that his parents were a match.
But they had to wait until they were tall enough to receive adult organs.
This moment came when Alex was three years old.
Julie described this sense of relief as follows: “Life has been limited, especially in the last year when Alex was on dialysis.
“He was really restricted in the amount of liquid he could take in. Eating was also an issue because everything had to be pureed.”
In January 2015, they were told about the planned surgery and Julie admitted she was nervous, worried something would go wrong.
She said she woke up early in the morning after the transplant, called the intensive care unit, and felt a huge sense of relief that everything had gone as planned.
After a few days, Julie added that Alex was “the most energetic he’s ever been” and was acting like a healthy 3-year-old.
“It’s amazing how quickly things improved. It was just a complete transformation,” she said.
image source, julie baddock
Alex and his family attend the British Transplant Games every year
Alex and Julie made an amazing recovery and six months later took part in the British Transplant Games in Newcastle.
“We get to know other families and catch up every year. We bounce ideas off each other and share experiences,” Julie said.
“The support from my peers has been amazing.”
Alex said competing in the game with other children his age reminds him that he is “not alone” and that “many other people” have had transplants.
They will join hundreds of athletes from 21 countries in Italy to compete in slalom, parallel slalom, giant slalom and super-G, while Julie will compete in ski racing.
The World Transplant Winter Games are held every two years and are open to anyone who has received a solid organ transplant, such as a liver, heart, lung, kidney, pancreas or bone marrow.
The UK team includes 19 transplant recipients, eight living donors and three donor family members.
“They (Alex and Julie) are both healthy and able to ski and enjoy life,” team manager Lynn Holt said.
“I’m sure they’ll bring home some medals.”
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