Give that lad a medal!

But now, five years on, brave Ross is fighting fit and has just won three gold medals in skiing competitions in the children's section of the national transplant games in Italy.

Ross, of Nelson Close, Sompting, said: "I took part in The Nicholas Ski Camp, which is run every two years for kids who have had transplants. I have been skiing since I was three and it was very exciting, but I didn't think I would win."

Ross, now 11, who beat children from all over the world to win medals for the giant slalom, slalom and a race between children and their transplant hospital team managers in the January games, went on the trip with his mum Anne.

Anne said: "I was so proud of him and it was a very emotional time. Just as he was about to begin one of the competitions he fell down at the top of the slope. I was willing him to get up again and ski down and he did. It really brought tears to my eyes.

"At first, we did not realise we were going to the transplant games and just thought it was a skiing holiday. All the children there, whose ages ranged from seven to 17, had had transplants and they all looked so well."

Ross, who attends Buckingham Middle School in Shoreham, suffers with a rare liver disorder called Alagilles Syndrome. He has a serious degree of the syndrome and it effects his liver, kidneys, heart and spine.

Anne said: "It was diagnosed at birth and at the age of two he was listed for a transplant at Kings College Hospital in London, but the doctors decided not to do it then.

"His liver started to deteriorate in September 1997 and he went into hospital just after Christmas 1997. He had his transplant on January 28 1998 and he stayed in hospital until the Easter.

"He was very ill before the transplant, he couldn't play with his friends, or go to school and had to use a wheelchair as he couldn't walk.

"He still has to have regular blood tests to make sure everything is OK. Twice a year he goes to Kings hospital for a check up and once a year he goes to Guy's Hospital."

Ross knows a few details about the person who gave him their liver and he sends postcards saying how he is doing to the donor's family via his transplant coordinator at King's hospital.

Anne is now encouraging other people to consider becoming organ donors. She said: "We need more donors and this really needs to be brought to people's attention."

n Anyone interested in organ donation should contact the organ donor hotline on 0845 6060400.