Silver medal double after two transplants

After two kidney transplants and a year on dialysis, Andrew Knox has beaten the odds to captain the UK’s tennis team and bring home two silver medals from Australia.

An ambassador for Royal Liverpool Hospital, Knox was among the medal winners in the men’s doubles tennis event at the World Transplant Games this year.

Knox was also a medal winner at the 2007 World Transplant Games in Thailand and won gold for the second year running in the men’s senior tennis singles at the British Transplant Games in Coventry.

He said: “I have always loved sport and to get the chance to represent my country has been a great honour and something I never thought I would be able to do.”

Andrew has had two kidney transplants, with each of his parents having donated an organ. His mother, Teresa, donated one of her kidneys to her son in 1998 but the transplant only lasted for eight years.

After spending a year on dialysis, Andrew’s father Fred donated a kidney so his son could have a second transplant in 2006.

In 2005 Andrew retired from his job and took up a voluntary committee management role for Transplant Sport UK, working from Royal Liverpool Hospital.

His achievements are even more remarkable considering he only took up the sport eight years ago.
 
He added: “My parents have risked their lives for me so staying fit and healthy is a mark of respect to them and being able to compete in events like these is a great way to spread the word about organ donations.”

The UK sent 140 athletes to Australia in an attempt to promote the Organ Donor Register. Team UK competed with more than 1,000 other participants from 55 countries and ended up second in the overall medal table, only behind the host nation.