Kieran Heycock

Kieran was born with Polycystic Kidney disease and for the first 10 years of his life, he fought every single day against the disease so that he could live like a normal, healthy little boy. Life was so tough for him as the disease prevented his kidneys from doing their job of getting rid of the toxins in his body, therefore, he constantly felt sick and didn't eat properly for the first 10 years of his life. He never knew what it was to feel well and the sicky feeling along with all the other effects of kidney disease was normal to him. Despite this, he never ever moaned and he has been to hell and back with the illness and procedures he's had to have and has always lived his life to the full. He played rugby and football from the age of 3 up until he had his transplant although towards the end he did find it more and more difficult. A week after his 10th Birthday, he had his kidney transplant. The difference in him was instant. His toxin levels dropped from 300 to 40 immediately and for the first time in his life, he asked for something to eat! Although after his transplant he had to give up his beloved rugby, he replaced it with swimming. Less than a year after his transplant, he entered his !st Transplant Games and won a silver medal for swimming. He has been every year since and has won countless medals for swimming. He represented the UK in Sweden this year at the World Transplant Games and won 1 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold and also did very well at the British Games.