A Kiama resident will celebrate his second chance at life during the upcoming Australian Transplant Games.
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Robert Kirkbride began experiencing health issues in his late 50’s.
He said after experiencing kidney failure, he “was expected to die… and had two heart attacks”.
“I died and was brought back to life at Wollongong Hospital,” he said.
“I started dialysis after that, and I did dialysis for eight years.”
Mr Kirkbride, now 72, received a life-saving kidney transplant in November 2010 at Prince of Wales Hospital.
“I never gave up hope; I was always very confident. Even when the renal specialist came and told me that they couldn’t save the kidneys but they would save my life, I said, ‘okay, let’s start on a plan right from now’.
“I said, ‘all I can do is move is my big toe, but that’s a start’.
“(My health) now is very good. I don’t have any issues whatsoever.”
Mr Kirkbride will therefore be participating in the upcoming Australian Transplant Games.
Transplant Australia will host the games from September 24 to October 1 in Western Sydney to promote the benefits of donation and transplantation, and help transplant recipients strive towards improved health and fitness.
The games take place every two years.
They are open to transplant recipients, donor families, living donors, people on dialysis or awaiting a transplant and supporters.
Mr Kirkbride will be adding six years to what will be an amazing total, and will be presented with a personalised shirt at the start of the games.
He will be competing in swimming events, as well as the 3km run and bowls.
This will be Mr Kirkbride’s third Australian Transplant Games.
He also competed in last year’s World Transplant Games in Argentina, winning five gold medals in swimming and setting several new world records for the event.
He has been an avid swimmer throughout his life, “so the swimming suited my lifestyle”.
Mr Kirkbride said he also enjoyed the vibe at the games.
“You’ve got both interacting at the games; the families of these donors, the competitors that received life-saving kidneys, and it’s all age groups.
“It’s also seeing the other people competing with you… They’ve all got stories. Everybody’s got a story, like I have.
“You understand each other and their feelings when you’re standing beside them. You’re very proud.”
Transplant recipients travel from throughout the country to participate.
“Our athletes demonstrate living proof that transplantation saves lives,” Transplant Australia CEO, Chris Thomas said.
“What’s more, it allows them a quality of life they might not have experienced for years.”
Transplant Australia will aim to highlight the benefits of transplantation by forming a human image of the total number of years of extra life enjoyed by the recipients at the games.
This will take place in Sydney’s Martin Place on September 26 at 11am.