A TEENAGER won gold at the British Transplant Games and earned seven GCSEs, despite missing three months of school for a kidney transplant.

Ella Wishick, 16, was born with kidney failure and treated with medication for most of her life, avoiding the need for dialysis.

However, last summer her kidney function worsened and she became increasingly tired.

Mum Jo, 44, donated one of her kidneys to Ella and in February they each underwent six-hour operations – Ella at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Jo at Guy’s Hospital.

It comes eight years after Ella’s brother Oliver, ten, received a kidney from his dad Mark, 47.

Mrs Wishick, of Hurst Way, Leigh, said: “It was a difficult time because Ella and I were separated and I was laid up for so long afterwards like Ella.

“We were so pleased when both Mark and me came up as a match for transplant. It meant we didn’t have to go through the emotions of being on the transplant list for both Ella and Oliver.

“Ella has had a lot of complications and missed three months of school. She’s also currently in hospital with an infection.

“However, she worked so hard at Belfairs Academy and managed to pass her exams and get seven GCSEs. She will be carrying on with maths and English and doing a beauty course at South Essex College.”

Despite Ella’s rough time, she got herself fit and ready for the British Transplant Games held earlier this month in Sheffield.

She won a gold in ten pin bowling and two bronze medals in badminton and ball throw.

Oliver, a pupil at Blenheim Primary School, won a gold in the obstacle race and bronze in badminton and 50m sprint.