A stroke of success for Catherine PHA UK member Catherine Makin won two medals at the British Transplant Games, combining a love of swimming with a celebration of life.
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aking gold in the breaststroke and silver in the backstroke was the icing on the cake for Catherine, who entered the Games to give thanks for her second chance. She had a double lung transplant in January 2020, five years after being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, and swimming is now
“I’m absolutely chuffed to pieces and so proud of myself. It’s all thanks to my beautiful donor who lives on in me.” AUTUMN/WINTER 2022 emphasis 12
an important part of her routine. The British Transplant Games took place in Leeds at the end of July and saw 850 transplant recipients come together to compete in different disciplines. Catherine, who has been swimming since a child, was inspired to enter following a conversation with her transplant team and after seeing the Games covered in this magazine previously. She had already been swimming two or three times a week since her operation, so it was an easy decision to make. “I thought why not give it a go?”, she said. “Swimming helps my lung function and keeps me healthy, so I was already ‘training’, but it was more about taking part than winning. I couldn’t believe it when I got the medals!” Catherine was part of a team of 20 transplant recipients from Manchester’s Wythenshawe Hospital, and they all took part in different disciplines. Despite being an experienced swimmer, she admits to feeling nervous when she saw the size of
the pool at the venue. “I panicked when I saw it was 50 metres as I’m used to 25. I’m also not used to people watching me swim, but it was a really good atmosphere.” Catherine and her family stayed in Leeds for five days over the event, and together they took part in the non-competitive ‘Donor Run’, a mass participation jog organised by the British Transplant Games to honour those who give the gift of life. “It was just a really good weekend, and I met lots of nice people”, Catherine added. “I’m absolutely chuffed to pieces with the wins and so proud of myself. It’s all thanks to my beautiful donor who lives on in me. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about her, or her family.”
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