I'm Built For This - Dealing with Invisible illnesses

It had just gone past 2am on a Sunday morning, and I have just got off of a WhatsApp call with another basketball coach in the USA who wants to bring his team to compete in the World Club Basketball Tournament.    Although it was a good call and the coach and I discussed many subjects, including the Queens Platinum Jubilee (I don’t know why), I was very tired, bleary eyed and a headache was looming through the lack of sleep.                   It's Good To Be Back!!               The Stoma Saved my Life This was the third consecutive night I had been on a late night/ early morning call with an overseas coach or basketball organisation, either discussing WCBT or just having a conversation about basketball in general.                 On another transatlantic call  As I got upstairs my wife Mandi, woke up and said she was just a...

Happy Kidneyversary to 'MEric'my donor Kidney ,  As of 15th January 2010 you have been in my body keeping me alive for the last 12 years. Your previous owner looked after you very well, apart from the odd cigarette and bottles of Pink Lady and Lambrusco, while hitting the disco back in the day.  Like your previous owner you are one of the most stubborn, feisty and resilient living things I have been fortunate to come across.  You 'MEric' have certainly taking a licking but you keep on ticking'.  But for the selflessness and humility of your generous owner, there is a strong possibility I would not be here today.  It's strange to think of all the wonderful experiences I would have missed out on, the grandchildren I would not have met, and the fantastic people across the world, who I would not have had the pleasure to meet.  In addition just over 3 months time I get to walk my beautiful daughter Lauren, down the aisle.  'MEric' you made that possible....

  New Blog Post - Coming Soon.  Why I founded the World Club Basketball, following my kidney transplant.  What went into the preparation of setting up the event.  How did I introduce myself and my plans to the international basketball world.  What obstacles did I face during preparation and more.........  How to create a successful international event of your own. www.worldclubbasketballtournament.com Press Promo                                    Top 10 Plays WCBT2018   

  MEric the Kidney- The Donor’s Story Mandi Douglin  "I donated my kidney to my husband to save his life" On 15 th  Jan 2010 I donated a kidney to my husband as to me it was the normal thing to do. Here is my story. Well where to start! In 2007, not long after I started dating Eric, (now my husband),he told me he had been diagnosed with early stage chronic kidney disease, but it was been very carefully managed with medication, diet and regular visits to the hospital. Basically, Eric’s kidneys for no apparent reason were failing & leaking protein which his body needed, as opposed to doing their natural function of getting rid of toxins from the body. If the problem deteriorated his condition would get worse and he would need a kidney transplant. After one of his regular appointments with the renal specialist at Guys hospital in 2008, Eric came home and said his tests showed his kidneys were only functioning at 25% and were failing rapidly. What did this mean I asked? E...

"We have to operate immediately or you could die within 24 hours "  No, this wasn't a line out of TV shows like Casualty, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, or for the older generation St Elsewhere.  This line was said to me by a very worried looking surgeon at the Prince Royal University Hospital, Orpington on 3rd January 2021.  Another worried voice from the corner of the room exclaimed "You need to sign this consent form right away, so we can prepare for the surgery right away"  Having just woken up, I thought I was in the tail end of some weird dream, exhausted I tried to roll over and go back to sleep.  "Do you understand what we said Mr Douglin?" another voice said. How many people were in this 'dream' I thought.  I slowly opened my eyes, and initially could only make out 5 figures, all in white standing in what I thought was my 'bedroom'. I squinted, rubbed my eyes and focused, nope these weren't ghosts from the movie 'Casper, these wer...