British Transplant Games – Gabriel’s story

Meet Gabriel – from transplant patient to British Transplant Games competitor!

Five years after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant at Sheffield Children’s, 13-year-old Gabriel is preparing to represent the hospital at the British Transplant Games.

Gabriel is one of the team members competing as part of Sheffield Children’s first-ever team at the Games, which take place across Sheffield this August.

The Games

The Games, taking place in Sheffield from 6–9 August, bring together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors and donor families to celebrate the life-changing impact of organ and stem cell donation through sport.

The 2026 Games are particularly special for Sheffield Children’s as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. For the first time, Sheffield Children’s is entering its own team, sponsored by Westfield Health and Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.

For 150 years, Sheffield Children’s has been driven by its commitment to create healthier futures for every child. From everyday concerns to complex conditions and life-saving treatment, Sheffield Children’s has cared for children, young people and their families across Sheffield, South Yorkshire and beyond. Today, that same belief remains unchanged: every child deserves the same chance to be healthy, no matter where they live or what challenges they face.

A life-changing journey

Gabriel was eight years old when he began developing unexplained bruising in September 2021. When he developed petechiae – small red or purple spots caused by bleeding under the skin – his mum knew something was seriously wrong and took him to the emergency department.

Gabriel was diagnosed with very severe aplastic anaemia, a rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow stops producing enough blood cells.

Gabriel needed a bone marrow transplant, but neither his brother nor sister was a match. Instead, a suitable donor was found through the Anthony Nolan register.

But just days before Gabriel was due to receive his transplant, the first-choice donor caught COVID-19. Gabriel had already received the chemotherapy conditioning treatment needed to prepare his body for the transplant, meaning the team had to work quickly to find another donor.

Thankfully, a back-up donor was able to donate her stem cells at short notice. On 30 December 2021, Gabriel received her stem cells.

Initially, doctors thought he may need a second transplant. But, with the help of medication, Gabriel’s blood levels improved and he was allowed home.

The months that followed were still incredibly challenging and Gabriel had to spend more time in hospital recovering from further complications of his transplant and he still needs weekly infusions of immunoglobulins at home to support his immune system.

Gabriel’s recovery has been a long and difficult journey, and he continues to be supported by a number of specialist teams at Sheffield Children’s, including Gastroenterology, Neurology, Audiology, Dermatology, Haematology, Urology, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine.

Looking forward

Now, five years after his transplant, Gabriel is looking forward to taking part in the British Transplant Games.

Gabriel enjoys bouldering, playing chess and Dungeons & Dragons with his friends.

For Gabriel, taking part in the Games is about more than competition. It is a chance to meet other young people who understand something of what he has been through and to try activities that he was unable to do for a long time.

He said: “I think it will be nice to meet other children who have been through what I have. I am excited to take part in the activities because I wasn’t able to do very much for such a long time and it will be good to try them to see how well I do and see how far I’ve come!”

Gabriel’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of children and young people living through serious illness and complex recovery. His participation in the British Transplant Games represents an opportunity to celebrate not only the life-saving impact of his transplant, but also the progress he has made since the difficult months following his treatment.

As he joins Sheffield Children’s first-ever British Transplant Games team, Gabriel will have the chance to meet others with shared experiences, try new activities and celebrate how far he has come.

The Sheffield Children’s team

Nine young people from Sheffield Children’s will compete as part of Team Sheffield Children’s across a range of sporting events. Each has their own unique story of resilience and determination, united by the life-changing impact of transplantation.

The team includes children and young people who have received kidney, bone marrow, stem cell and double lung transplants, with competitors travelling from across the region – and beyond – to take part under the Sheffield Children’s banner.

The British Transplant Games are about much more than medals. They celebrate the generosity of donors and their families, promote the benefits of physical activity after transplant, and give recipients the opportunity to meet others who share similar experiences. Sheffield Children’s will be joining adult competitors from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as part of the city’s hosting team. Sheffield 2026 is on track to be the largest in Games history with a record number of 2,857 people registered to participate!

Yvonne Millard, Chief Nurse at Sheffield Children’s, said:

“We’re incredibly proud to be entering a Sheffield Children’s team in the British Transplant Games for the very first time. Each member of our team has shown remarkable courage and resilience, and their participation is a celebration of how transplantation can help children and young people build healthier futures.

“As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, it’s a privilege to cheer on these inspirational young people while recognising the extraordinary generosity of donors and their families, whose gift has made these moments possible.”