Transplant man wins judo title

AN Uckfield man whose life was saved when his wife donated a kidney to him has won a national judo title.

AN Uckfield man whose life was saved when his wife donated a kidney to him has won a national judo title.

Jonathan Mitchell, 46, of Scarletts Close, had both his kidneys removed in January last year because of organ failure.

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Miraculously, tests showed his wife Jane to be a perfect match.

And thanks to the expertise of surgeons at St George s Hospital in Tooting, London, the operation to transplant the organ from Jane to Jonathan, in February 2000, was a success.

And now, just 20 months later, Jonathan has showed he is, quite literally, fighting fit by winning the over 100kg category in the National Veterans Judo Championships, at High Wycombe, Bucks.

Agency worker Jonathan said: I think I am the first transplant patient to win a national judo title.

Jane said: When, not long after the operation, Jonathan asked his specialist if he could do judo again, I thought You must be joking! But he s proved he s a real winner.