08 August 2014
Just over a year after treatment, Ben prepares for the British Transplant Games
After being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, spending
months receiving treatment at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
and receiving a heart transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital,
Ben Sporle is fighting fit, preparing for his first British
Transplant Games.
In August 2012 Ben's parents were concerned when their son, who
has severe learning difficulties and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), started presenting with symptoms of
lethargy, sickness and a grey complexion. After x-rays at Great
Western Hospital, Swindon, it was found Ben had an extremely
enlarged heart. The next day, he was taken to Bristol Royal
Hospital for Children where he was diagnosed with dilated
cardiomyopathy and urgently treated. Ben received care in the
paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and was later transferred to
Ward 32.
Despite coping on medication and returning to school in January
2013, Ben's condition deteriorated and he had to be readmitted to
Bristol Children's Hospital. On readmission Ben's family were
informed he would need a heart transplant and was put on the
waiting list. Ben remained at the children's hospital in Bristol
until the family received a phone call in Spring 2013, to say a
heart donor was available. Ben was immediately transferred to Great
Ormond Street Hospital in London where the transplant took
place. Since his transplant, Ben has received care from Great
Ormond Street Hospital and will later return to Bristol children's
hospital for follow ups.
Ben's
mother, Kerry Sporle said: "We can never thank
all of the staff on PICU and Ward 32 enough for the amazing care
they gave Ben and us as a family, they got us through some very
difficult times and the hospital became are home for several
months. Since his transplant, Ben has contacted the donor's family
through Great Ormond Street Hospital and thanked them for this
special gift. We know the transplant isn't a cure but more an
extension of Ben's life and we hope he can live his life to the
full but think sensibly. We recently celebrated Ben's 14th Birthday
at Harry Potter World and had a great day walking round the set and
flying on broomsticks."
This August Ben will be attending his first British Transplant
Games hosted in Bolton. Ben's friends and family are very excited
for this event and are helping him train at home. Ben will be
entering the ball throw, long jump, running and obstacle race.
William Booth, clinical nurse manager
on the paediatric intensive care unit at Bristol Royal Hospital for
Children, where Ben was treated, said: "Following Ben's heart
transplant he has made a remarkable recovery thanks to this
precious gift of life from the donor family. He is now able
join in activities with his friends, back to being a normal little
boy full of life and energy. We are delighted to hear he is
participating in this event, we are very proud of his achievements
and, along with his family and friends, wish him great success at
the games'
Kerry said: "We are all looking
forward to the games and don't know what to expect as this is our
first time going. This is a huge achievement for Ben, who has come
a long way since his heart transplant and we can't wait to be
cheering him on."
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