A 17-year-old boy from Kingswinford, who was born with a rare liver disease and received a life-saving transplant a few days before his third birthday, is heading to Germany this weekend to take part in the World Transplant Games in Dresden.
Kristof, a student at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge, has had the perfect warm-up for the event, having scooped five gold medals at the British Transplant Games which took place in Oxford earlier this month.
“I’ll be competing in table tennis, tennis, and badminton and I’m particularly looking forward to table tennis as that’s my favourite sport and the one I play most during the year,” he says. For Kristof however, like many Transplant Games competitors, the event is about more than sport.
“The competition side of things is fun as it’s always a great feeling when you win a match but the thing I like the most is the opportunity to meet new people who share the same love of sport as you and also meeting old friends who maybe you haven’t seen since last year’s Transplant Games,” he explains. “My team is also very welcoming and are just a nice group to be around, with all of us sharing different journeys we’ve had to reach this point.”
The forthcoming world games mark a milestone for Kristof as it will be his last representing Birmingham Children’s Hospital where he received his liver transplant 14 years ago.
“Next year, I am looking forward to competing for the new adults’ team that I will be joining at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham,” he says. “I’ve been lucky to be well since my transplant, and I make sure I stay as healthy as I can by exercising regularly. I feel very lucky and honoured to have the opportunity to travel around the world playing sport and I aim to do this for as long as I can.”
Outside transplant sport, Kristof has been selected to play in the Table Tennis Youth British Club League, and after next year’s A-Levels, hopes to study a sport related subject at university.
“Kristof is an inspiration,” says Michelle Wilkins of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, who have provided his family with information and support over the years. “We support many young people who live with liver disease or have undergone a transplant and it’s wonderful for them to see that this diagnosis need not stop you living a very healthy and active life. We were excited to cheer him on at the British Transplant Games and we wish him all the best for the World Games which I’ve no doubt will be an amazing experience for him and his family.”
