A HUSBAND and wife who have both had organ transplants are celebrating a new haul of medals after competing in the British Transplant Games.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Richard Caulkin from Clifton spent three years on the transplant list – and was close to dying – before receiving a donor set of lungs and the chance of a new life. This year he will celebrate nine years since the lifesaving operation.

His wife, Wendy, also went through transplant surgery after suffering from postpartum cardiomyopathy following the birth of her son when she was just 23 years old. But Wendy waited another eight years before finally undergoing heart transplant surgery.

And after taking home a silver medal in the 10km road cycling event and a bronze in the 5km cycling time trial, she said: “I never imagined then that we would be here. I was only given weeks to live.

“It’s wonderful to have things like the British Transplant Games because you can look back and see how far you have come.”

The road to recovery has not always been easy, and she said: “At 23 it’s not something you really think about, you still have your life ahead of you. I had to learn how to walk again. Now we never take health for granted.”

Richard, who also competed in the cycling, picked up two bronze medals in the 400m and 800m track events. He said: “I definitely didn’t imagine I would be doing this. I was given two weeks to live. The games have a great atmosphere because we have all been through the same sort of thing.”

The couple highlighted the importance of organ donation and urged people to let their close family or friends know their wishes about the issue.

For more information visit organdonation.nhs.uk.