Nine years ago, Lisa Laing’s life was saved thanks to an amazing person and their courageous family.
Today, Lisa shares her story of how two incredible donors, and their loved ones, have enabled life to live on and created amazing sporting memories.
Lisa Laing’s Story
Lisa was born with kidney disease, although it was not fully diagnosed until she was around seven years old. From that point, much of her childhood became a mixture of hospital stays, surgery and never-ending tests.
Dialysis was first mentioned when Lisa was just 12, but thankfully it was held off until she was 18. At an age when most young people are working, socialising and enjoying their independence, Lisa was spending three days a week in hospital on dialysis.
Then, just four days after her 21st birthday, the call came.
There was potentially a kidney available.
The transplant went ahead and was an immediate success. For Lisa and her family, the donor’s family were always at the front of their minds. Their courageous decision changed Lisa’s life forever.
Following her transplant, Lisa lived life to the full. She travelled the world, swam in oceans, climbed mountains and even abseiled off buildings.
But the second extraordinary gift her donor gave her was the chance to become a mum. Thirteen years after her transplant, Lisa gave birth to her son.
After 25 years of life given by that first donor, Lisa’s transplanted kidney sadly had to be removed. That donor, however, still lives on through Lisa’s son and will never be forgotten.
Lisa returned to dialysis, but this time it was even harder. She now had her son to think about, and he found it difficult seeing his mum so unwell. Life became a cycle of dialysis, work, sleep and repeat.
Then, after two years, the call came again.
Lisa Laing received her second transplant.
Once again, an amazing and precious gift changed not only Lisa’s life, but the life of her family, especially her son.
Lisa said:
“Nine years have now passed since my second transplant. Never a day goes by without me thinking of my donors and their families. I celebrate both of my donors’ gifts and thank them, and their loved ones, for the life they have given me and my son. RIP my unknown heroes.”
In 2019, Lisa joined a crew of transplant recipients, along with a transplant surgeon from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, to sail in the famous Round the Island Race around the Isle of Wight. The aim was to raise awareness of organ donation.
Transplant Sport
Since then, Lisa has continued to honour her donors through transplant sport.
Last year, she represented at the Official World Transplant Games in Dresden, where she was selected to compete in the 50m and 100m backstroke. She also took part in the 5k Donor Walk and the 5k Reasons to Give Walk.
At the British Transplant Games in Oxford, Lisa competed in the 50m backstroke, tenpin bowling, darts, ball throw and pétanque — coming away with two gold medals in the 50m backstroke and ball throw.
Most recently, Lisa represented Great Britain at the European Transplant Games in Arnhem, Netherlands.
The Games brought together around 1,000 athletes from across Europe, all of whom have received a life-saving transplant. But the Games are far more than a sporting event. They are a celebration of the gift of life, and a chance to honour, remember and give thanks to donors and their loved ones.
Lisa competed in swimming and walking football.
In the pool, she won bronze medals in both the 50m and 100m backstroke — her first international medals.
Lisa also competed in Pétanque, where she played what she described as the best she ever had, eventually losing to the player who went on to win the competition in her age group.
Walking football was a completely new challenge.
It had never featured before at an international or national Transplant Games, and Great Britain formed a team through Zoom meetings before finally training together just three days before the competition.
To help prepare, Lisa approached Sutton United Foundation to ask whether she could join a couple of walking football sessions to learn the rules and get a feel for the sport.
She was immediately made to feel welcome, encouraged and supported.
Lisa originally intended to join for only a short time, but very quickly realised she wanted to become a permanent part of the group. The confidence she gained was, in her words, amazing and she credits that to the incredible training, kindness and support she received.
That confidence carried through to the Games, where she was asked to captain the Great Britain walking football team. Lisa Lang even scored a goal against a very strong French side.
Great Britain were eventually beaten by Poland, who went on to win the whole competition.
Lisa is now preparing to represent St Helier Hospital at the British Transplant Games in Sheffield next month, where she will once again compete in the 50m backstroke, darts, Pétanque and ball throw.
Lisa Laing’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of organ donation.
Behind every transplant recipient is a donor, a family and a decision made with extraordinary courage.
Please speak to your loved ones about your organ donation wishes, register your decision with NHS Organ Donation, and say: Yes, I donate.
