Dwygyfylchi mum celebrates 30th anniversary of transplantAug 6 2009 By Sarah Lewis
A BRAVE and Olympic medal winning mum who is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her kidney transplant has paid tribute to her family and friends for their loving support.
Wendy Ward, 59, of Maes Alltwen, Dwygyfylchi will not only be celebrating the 30th anniversary of her transplant on September 3, but will also celebrate her birthday on Friday, September 25 with a party organised for Saturday 26, for all her family and friends.
Wendy is very proud of her family as her son, Ricky will also be celebrating his 22 years in the RAF.
Wendy said: “My family is amazing we are all very close, we call each other all the time.
“My husband Eric is marvellous, he is very laid back and calm about things.”
Wendy suffered renal failure just two and a half years after getting married 35 years ago.
“I was on dialysis for two and a half years and I’ve had so many operations.”
The eldest of 11 children, Wendy had a kidney donated by her brother Lloyd Jones, who has now returned to the quarry village after spending seven years in Portugal.
Wendy said: “It shows what can happen if someone does donate organs, after the tunnel, there is light.
“Since the transplant, the kidney’s still working, I have not had a problem with it, touch wood.”
Wendy enjoyed good health and won a medal in the Transplant Olympics in 1986 for the 800 metres, until she was diagnosed with bowel cancer back in 2000 and got the all-clear six months later.
She underwent a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology on the Wirral, which she has renamed “Sunny California.”
Wendy said: “I would like to thank them all, the doctors and nurses were out if this world.
“I have been treated so well, you are not just a name, you are treated as a special person and I would like to thank everybody in the renal care unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.”
Wendy’s “miracle transplant daughter” Danielle, 27 will be lacing up her running shoes to take part in the Great North Run, in Newcastle on September 20.
Wendy explained: “Danielle was born prematurely, which is common for transplant babies and my family was so supportive.”
Danielle will compete in the race to raise vital funds for Kidney Research UK.
She said: “I thought I should do something as it the 30th anniversary of the transplant so I decided to join the race and I’m really looking forward to it.”
To sponsor Danielle in the Great North Run, please visit
http://www.kidneyresearchukevents.org/daniellewardhttp://www.northwalesweeklynews.co.uk/conwy-county-news/local-conwy-news/2009/08/06/dwygyfylchi-mum-celebrates-30th-anniversary-of-transplant-55243-24335440/
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