AN 11-YEAR-OLD Newport girl whose life was saved by a liver transplant when she less than a year old helped launch the Newport 2019 British Transplant Games.

The 42nd British Transplant Games will be held in the city from July 25 to July 28 this year, bringing in an estimated £1.5million spending boost to Newport.

Around 2,500 people are expected to come to the city to watch 25 different sporting events over four days of competition at different venues around Newport.

Today (Tuesday, January 22), 11-year-old Sophie Wilson from Rogerstone helped launch the countdown to the games, standing by as the flame was lit by mayor of Newport Councillor Malcolm Linton and his wife, the mayoress Sharon.

Sophie was born with Biliary Atresia - a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts.

 

(Sophie Wilson, 11, with her grandmother Elaine Hills)

Despite having a procedure to fix the problem, her family was told that she had end stage liver disease when she was 10-months-old.

Her grandmother, Elaine Hills was at the launch with Sophie, and told the South Wales Argus how much the British Transplant Games meant to their family.

“We had a phone call to say a liver was available. You go to the hospital, but you don’t know if it will be a match until they do tests.

“It was, and she had half a liver transplanted.

“We don’t know much about the donor but I think he saved a lot of lives.

“In her last consultation the doctor asked her if she had any questions. She only had one: Why was she born with liver disease? Sometimes there are no answers.

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“You have to talk to your family about your wishes in terms of donation. That’s the most important thing.”

This is Sophie’s second games, and she will be competing in the Birmingham Children’s Hospital team, where she had the transplant operation.

She plans to compete in swimming and running competitions.

David Nix, president of the Donor Family Network, echoed the need for everybody to make their family know what their organ donor wishes are.

Although deemed consent is in place throughout Wales, it’s still important to have those conversations, he explained.

Mr Nix’s daughter was killed in a car accident in the USA in 1996, and donated her organs.

“She had three organ donation cards,” he said.

 

(David Nix, president of the Donor Family Network)

“I remember when she as about seven, she came home from school and told us she wanted to donate her organs.

“Since her death I’ve been driven into this role. I wanted to find out what happened to donor families in the UK, and basically there wasn’t a lot.

“The games just get bigger and bigger. They’re talking 2,500 people for Newport, including athletes and families, but that’s a conservative estimate.

“The most important thing is that it engages families and starts conversations. That’s the be all and end all as far as I’m concerned, as at the moment families can override the system, and their loved ones wishes.

“Everyone needs to have these discussions.”

Deputy leader of Newport Council and Gaer councillor Mark Whitcutt spoke at the Transplant Games launch.

He said it was “fantastic” that Newport had secured the event.

“Newport is developing a profile for hosting major sporting events,” he added.

“It’s so inspirational to see people who have been the beneficiaries of transplants being able not just to live a normal life, but an exciting, active life.”

Cllr Whitcutt added that he was planning on running in the Donor Run event during the games, and said his heart stent procedure last year had changed his outlook on life.

The games have been organised on behalf of the charity Transplant Sport UK, with the aim of raising awareness of and increase organ donation.

Sponsor Westfield Health has been involved in the last 11 games.

Games events range from fishing through to track and field, including the donor run, which is open to the public.