FOR transplant recipient Esther Scott, 74, participating in the World Transplant Games isn’t about winning medals: just taking part is its own reward.
Esther, from Nedlands, was due to be in Malaga, Spain, when The Senior went to press, competing in the 2017 games, which finish on July 2.
Esther competed in the petanque singles and doubles, tenpin bowling pairs and 3000m walking race during this year’s event after competing at events in Gotenburg, Sweden, in 2011 and in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2013.
She underwent a liver transplant in 2010 after being diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, the delayed result of a condition called ulcerative colitis, which she was initially treated for at the age of 20.
“I was on medication for about two years and when the medication started to fail I went through the process of testing of all my body parts to see if I was suitable for a transplant,” she said.
Esther didn’t expect to be offered a transplant given her age, but her results were good and as it turned out, she was offered a liver just in time to save her life.
Before the transplant she had to have 6-8 litres of fluid drained from one of her lungs.
“They told me I wouldn’t have lived another week if I hadn’t had the transplant,” she said.
Esther didn’t know about the Transplant Games until told about the event by a friend who had undergone a transplant more than 20 years ago.
While she had never really been much of an athlete, she had been active and fit throughout her life.
She found the event provided great chances to make friends with people who had gone through similar experiences; see more of the world; and enjoy the extra years she didn’t think she would live to see following her diagnosis.
“It’s a great chance to connect with peers and it’s good for the families after seeing us go through it too,” she said.
“The fact you go with a group but can still be an individual within that group is great and Transplant Australia (and the event) have also given me an excuse to travel.”
After the games she will travel to Morocco for a week-long holiday where she plans to do lots of people-watching and eat some great food.
