A YOUNG boy who had a life-saving transplant thanks to his mum donating a kidney has returned victorious from the British Transplant Games.
Six-year old Charlie Middleton-Ashdown, of Westcourt Road, Worthing, had life-saving surgery when he was just two after it was obvious his kidneys were failing.
Now, despite suffering from shingles and scarlet fever earlier this year, he has won a gold and bronze medal at the four-day British Transplant Games held in Coventry.
RecoveryMum Caroline, 46, said: "We were really thrilled as we had not expected him to do as well as he did.
"He has been so ill this year, so it was really fantastic that he even got to go to the games in the first place."
Charlie, who attends Broadwater C of E School, was part of the Evelina VIP's children transplant sports team from the Evelina Children's Hospital, at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London.
It is here where he had his transplant after his mum donated one of her healthy kidneys.
DonationShe said: "He was born with a condition, which we had been told about when I was pregnant, and told he probably would not survive and he did.
"But we knew from the outset he would need a kidney transplant at some point.
"By the time he was two, it became very clear that he needed one quite desperately so we went for live donation."
Charlie was in Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital for eight weeks and since then has undergone numerous operations.
Medal doubleThis is the first year Charlie has entered the games and he took part in a number of events including the long jump, for which he won gold for his age group.
He also won a bronze in the obstacle course and was given a large medal for taking part in the event.
Charlie said he was very happy with his medals: "The long jump was the most fun.
"I got a gold medal and I had to stand on a podium so I was very excited."
Normal lifeDad Andy, 35, added: "He has always been quite a fit boy and obviously the transplant has enabled him to try and live as normal a life as possible.
"The idea of the transplant event is a celebration of life.
"A lot of these children would not be here if it was not for their transplants."
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