Flagbearer Craig proud

Exactly 11 weeks on from his kidney transplant, Craig Ferguson will be Team Lanarkshire’s proud flagbearer at the Games’opening ceremony.

It will complete a whirlwind period which began with a dramatic 2am hospital phonecall just 48 hours before he had been due to get married, to finally tying the knot with fiancee Christina last Friday.

Now the dad-of-two is“going from strength to strength”, saying:“It’s amazing – my kidney function has gone from eight per cent to 90 per cent and my energy levels are back to normal.

“It all happened so fast; but it’s a new lease of life. I was in hospital for six days, and when I got out I felt 10 times better.

“Previously I was having dialysis through the night in hospital and then going to work, as a shipyard engineer.

“I was really tired all the time – but now I can spend a lot more time with my family, playing with the kids or taking my son fishing.”

Craig, a regular angler at Hillend reservoir in Caldercruix, was already due to take part in the Games’open fishing event as a supporter of the Lanarkshire team – but after his transplant, became a full member.

The Plains resident said:“I’ve been fishing at Hillend as long as I can remember and compete in their trout fishing contests; this is a different type but will be a good experience, and our team hopes to get a couple of medals.”

Craig, 26, was diagnosed a decade ago with kidney condition IgA nephropathy, and told how in the past few years the organ’s function had reduced and“gone downhill pretty fast”.

He said:“I was put on the transplant list last March, and ended up on dialysis in September; so I was only on it for nine months before I got the transplant.”

The Games aim to raise awareness of organ donors, and Craig is encouraging people to register.

He admitted:“It’s hard to put into words. It’s a good gift to leave behind if you pass away, to give somebody a new life, and their family as well.”

Lease of life Craig Ferguson