Ski treat for brave Ben is well earned
Ben Davey, who was recently taken on a ski trip with other young transplant patients.
After showing incredible bravery a group of youngsters have been given a treat to show off their skills on the slopes.
Morley’s Ben Davey, a pupil at Blackgates Primary School, was one of the group of young transplant patients headed to Switzerland to visit a special ski camp for children around the world.
Ten-year-old Ben was born with Wolff Parkinson syndrome, a condition which causes irregular and fast heartbeats, which led him suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, which left him with an enlarged heart.
The condition means the main pumping chambers of the heart are dilated and contract poorly, which results in a low output of the blood from the heart. With a build up of fluid it leads to congestion in the lungs and breathlessness.
Although Ben seemed quite healthy, his heart was struggling.
Initially, doctors didn’t expect Ben to live, but thanks to advances in technology, he was put on the heart transplant list and in September 2006, aged just four, he went through a seven-hour pioneering operation to give him a new heart and save his life.
The annual Tackers International Ski Camp, held in Anzere, saw 12 children from the UK meet other young transplant sport athletes.
Leeds play worker Lisa Beaumont, who accompanied the children, said: “It was an amazing week where the kids grew in confidence, developed self esteem and made friends from around the world. “They learnt to ski and snowboard, took part in swimming, snowshowing, sledging and dog sledging as well as making pizzas and cup cakes.
“They also shared stories with children from around the world about their different transplants and celebrated life, as well as giving thanks to their donor families as without them they would not be here today.”
Tackers was set up by Liz Schick, who had a liver transplant in 1997 and afterwards wanted to help set up the camps to show there was life after surgery.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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