….On being a successful transplant recipient
After 16years of being a successful transplant recipient
( St. Bartholomew's Hospital), I felt that my next venture was
to sail back to England, from Sweden. This was to be quite an achievement, not only for me personally, but also for my medical and surgical teams, over the years.
My passion for sailing started in my childhood, whilst cruising weekends on Essex creeks and rivers, aboard my father's clinker built dinghy, pumped up with the joy and admiration of watching my cousins building boats (they helped build Ted Heath's yacht at Burnham-on- Crouch).
Many moons later, following my kidney transplant, I was luckily chosen to race in the 1989 Fastnet Race,. The crew was made up of transplant recipients, a doctor and a nurse (just in case!). The passion had returned! In 1993, I was asked to crew on a short-handed boat. I crossed the Atlantic, where I met a Swede whom I married and we cruised together in the Caribbean, for five years. I came to stay a while in Sweden, though on a visit to England, and St.Bart's, I was diagnosed with Cancer. However, I overcame that too and forged ahead. I got a timely divorce and then bought my first boat in Sweden (a ROCK 20, built on Åland).
I cruised and regained my confidence, in the vast Lake Mälaren for 3 years. However, I was feeling homesick when a friend suggested I return to the UK. How? I was tired and weakened by my poor health and the long Nordic winters. A spark of life from somewhere in me decided there and then to sell up and buy a larger boat to sail to England.
I needed a life change. An adventure!
One year later, I found ‘Svanevit’ ( my Hallberg-Rassy Monsun-31). It was meant to be. I fell in love. I never dreamt I’d own a Hallberg-Rassy, let alone sail my own boat from Sweden to Brighton come to that! I gathered a crew that by nature became, over time, all female. The Valkyries!
I began to catch up on old contacts in the UK Transplant world. All have been morally supportive. Many companies and people supported me with lifts, postage, discounts, help and advice.
My brother Mark Dowding supported me by putting me in touch with Lamb & Weston, Holland, who together with Sea Avenue, in Sweden, sponsored our heavy weather sailing gear.
Now, after my 20th year with a successful transplant, I plan to set off again. This time around Britain and Ireland. I wish to raise awareness again for Transplantation and Organ donation, and also for the RNLI, who I am now fortunate to work for (as a Sea Safety Advisor).
I believe I am fortunate and never a day goes by that I take life for granted. When I was on dialysis, a weekend in the country, or a day's sail was enough, before I would feel very ill again. But that didn’t stop me making the most of each day. Nothing does! I am 'twice blessed' and want as many people as possible to know and support transplantation and organ donation.
Aye,Aye Captain Jac ( (Jacqueline Dowding)
©Copyright Jacquie Dowding 2008