Kidney Matters - Issue 9 Summer 2020
Kidney Matters is our free quarterly magazine for everyone affected by kidney disease.
This issue includes some advice on keeping busy during lockdown, tips on managing your diet and weight, insight into the life of a carer, and an interview with the fabulous 'Marilyn' (front cover). As well as this the we have some delicious kidney-friendly cherry filo pastry tarts in the Kidney Kitchen and our Kidney Clinic discusses the advantages and disadvantages of prednisolone.
Kidney Matters is our free quarterly magazine for everyone affected by kidney disease.
This issue includes some advice on keeping busy during lockdown, tips on managing your diet and weight, insight into the life of a carer, and an interview with the fabulous 'Marilyn' (front cover). As well as this the we have some delicious kidney-friendly cherry filo pastry tarts in the Kidney Kitchen and our Kidney Clinic discusses the advantages and disadvantages of prednisolone.
32Oliver’s 2019 Transplant Gamesby Jane GoddardWhen you are told that your baby has health issues, you are instantly different. Yournormal is your own and those around you are sympathetic, but they don’t understand.When Oliver was born, we grieved for the healthy childwe lost, that we never had and became forced into aworld that we didn’t want to be in. Like others, our roadhas been rocky, littered with anxiety, tears, dasheddreams and fears for our child and his future.Our journey to transplant felt like a long one, but we gotthere! After a roller coaster year post-transplant, weactually felt in a position to be confident we could usethe word ‘normal’ to describe much of our life.A few years ago, Oliver saw the poster for the TransplantGames at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) andasked he if could go. Even going to an event like thatseemed so out of our reach, and we did not know whatlife after transplant would look like, but of course wesaid “Yes, once you have your new kidney.”We missed the first year due to bad planning andbooking a holiday before we knew the dates of theGames, and we have still not been forgiven for that!So, in 2019 we promised Oliver we would make surewe were there. I am a planner, a control freak and I donot like spontaneity of any sort, but here we were, allbooked up and ready to take the plunge.Our first day at the Games was a bit bewildering. Wedidn’t know anyone except for most of the organisingteam - Sheila, the two Suzannes and Laura - from ourtime on the ward, but we’re a friendly family so would tryhard to integrate into the clearly close GOSH renal family.We were welcomed with open arms by everybody, andsuddenly we realised we had these automatic ticketsto a club that really, we don’t want to belong to, butfeel honoured to be a part of. People from all walks oflife have come together and shared their stories, goodand bad, and the friendship is clearly strong in bothadults and children.“We have never met anyoneoutside of clinic appointmentswho has walked in our shoes,who has gone through exactlywhat we have, and so much ofwhat they said, we could havesaid word for word. For the firsttime in a very long time, wefelt a sense of belonging!”
33We have never met anyone outside of clinicappointments who has walked our shoes, who hasgone through exactly what we have, and so much ofwhat they said, we could have said word for word.For the first time in a very long time, we felt a senseof belonging!We honestly had the best weekend ever. The Gamesare all inclusive to the whole family and everyone iscatered for on every level. Never have I known an eventbe able to do that.Oliver had an amazing time and is so proud of what hehas achieved. Medals or no medals, he will always be awinner in our eyes, but to see him be recognised for hisefforts is amazing.We are proud to be a part of GOSH renal and cannotwait till the next Games!The Goddard family at the 2019 Games: Jane,James, Kelly and OliverBritish TransplantGames 2020Coventry’s many wonderful sports facilities hadbeen all set to welcome over 3,000 guests to sharein the spectacular British Transplant Games inJuly. Transplant teams, donors, donor families andsupporters from all over the country have beenpreparing for this event ever since we all said goodbyeto each other at the close of the 2019 Games.However, in order to keep everyone safe and inaccordance with Government direction relating tothe containment of the Coronavirus, this event willnot now take place over the weekend of 31 July – 2August. As one of the Games’ main sponsors, wehere at Kidney Care UK know this news will be metwith disappointment, especially from our littlecompetitors. We know you will understand.A Press Release from Transplant Sport states,‘Our main concern is the safety of all our participants,their families and friends and to the numerousvolunteers and employees who support the TransplantGames, many of whom work within the NHS.’At the time of going to print, it is hoped that theGames will be postponed to an alternative date laterthis year, likely to be during September. For moreinformation, please visit the official website at www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk
- Page 1 and 2: Summer 2020Issue 09Drag queensand d
- Page 3 and 4: 3Welcome toKidney MattersCoronaviru
- Page 5 and 6: 5And for the budding chefs, now rea
- Page 7 and 8: 7So, does a high BMI number really
- Page 9 and 10: 9were set at a pace I could realist
- Page 11 and 12: LEARN MORE11Survivors: Life Unfilte
- Page 13 and 14: 13“If someone like myself, who le
- Page 15 and 16: 15step is to check that you are tak
- Page 17 and 18: LEARN MORE17the first week of the t
- Page 19 and 20: 19Cook along with Chef Ripley onlin
- Page 21 and 22: 21Through these three elements - qu
- Page 23 and 24: 23the day, began to get to me. One
- Page 25 and 26: Members of the Kidney Care UK teamr
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33
We have never met anyone outside of clinic
appointments who has walked our shoes, who has
gone through exactly what we have, and so much of
what they said, we could have said word for word.
For the first time in a very long time, we felt a sense
of belonging!
We honestly had the best weekend ever. The Games
are all inclusive to the whole family and everyone is
catered for on every level. Never have I known an event
be able to do that.
Oliver had an amazing time and is so proud of what he
has achieved. Medals or no medals, he will always be a
winner in our eyes, but to see him be recognised for his
efforts is amazing.
We are proud to be a part of GOSH renal and cannot
wait till the next Games!
The Goddard family at the 2019 Games: Jane,
James, Kelly and Oliver
British Transplant
Games 2020
Coventry’s many wonderful sports facilities had
been all set to welcome over 3,000 guests to share
in the spectacular British Transplant Games in
July. Transplant teams, donors, donor families and
supporters from all over the country have been
preparing for this event ever since we all said goodbye
to each other at the close of the 2019 Games.
However, in order to keep everyone safe and in
accordance with Government direction relating to
the containment of the Coronavirus, this event will
not now take place over the weekend of 31 July – 2
August. As one of the Games’ main sponsors, we
here at Kidney Care UK know this news will be met
with disappointment, especially from our little
competitors. We know you will understand.
A Press Release from Transplant Sport states,
‘Our main concern is the safety of all our participants,
their families and friends and to the numerous
volunteers and employees who support the Transplant
Games, many of whom work within the NHS.’
At the time of going to print, it is hoped that the
Games will be postponed to an alternative date later
this year, likely to be during September. For more
information, please visit the official website at www.
britishtransplantgames.co.uk
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