From near-death to global stage, UAE's transplant athletes inspire hope

They’ve survived near-death diagnoses, endured multiple organ transplants, and fought back from physical collapse. Now, Omar “OT” Tom and Katie Larkins are racing toward a new goal — not just the finish line, but a global audience waiting to be inspired.

As members of Team UAE, the country’s first-ever delegation to the World Transplant Games, Omar and Katie are among a group of athletes proving that life after transplant doesn’t just continue — it can thrive.

Set to take place in Dresden, Germany in August 2025, the Games will feature organ recipients, living donors, and donor families from around the world, united under one shared truth: organ donation saves lives.

For Omar Tom, the road to Germany has been long, painful — and profoundly transformative.

Born with kidney dysplasia and a condition that caused urine to flow black into his kidneys, Omar’s childhood was defined by hospital visits. By 21, his kidneys gave out. His father donated a kidney — but eight weeks later, his body began rejecting it.

“I woke up from a coma in the ICU, with a ventilator breathing for me,” Omar recalls. “My lungs had collapsed. Doctors had to stop the immunosuppressants to save my life, risking the kidney in the process.”

Somehow, the kidney survived — for six more years. In 2016, Omar received a second transplant, this time from his brother. Those two sacrifices, he says, gave him more than life — they gave him purpose.

“I’ve been dealt some tough cards,” he says. “But I’m playing my best hand now.”

Omar is now training to compete in the 100m and 200m sprints under the coaching of two-time European sprint champion Tommy Rhamdan. His routine includes track training three mornings a week, explosive strength work in the gym, and managing post-transplant hydration — drinking up to 7 litres of water a day.

What drives him isn’t just the medal.

“Training is my way of showing gratitude,” he says. “Gratitude to Allah, to my father and brother, and to everyone who kept me from giving up.”

He’s also the co-founder of #DukkanGetsFit, a campaign that began as a personal comeback from bad test results and has evolved into a larger community health movement.

For Omar, the World Transplant Games are much more than a symbolic gesture.

“We’re not just here to survive,” he says. “We’re here to thrive. We came to win. We came to show that transplant athletes are not the exception — we’re the future. Every race we run is proof that second chances work.”

His message to the world?

“If you’d take an organ to save your life — be the kind of person who would give one, too.”

Age: 35

Sport: 100m & 200m sprint

Transplant History:

Background:

Creative entrepreneur and co-founder of the “Dukkan” podcast and #DukkanGetsFit wellness campaign.

Fact: Drinks nearly 7 litres of water a day to manage his transplant health.

Quote: “Training is my way of showing gratitude.”

In 2021, Katie Larkins was diagnosed with a late-stage autoimmune liver disease. The condition had progressed silently, and by the time doctors caught it, only a transplant could save her.

That November, she became the recipient of the first liver transplant coordinated between Kuwait and the UAE — a milestone in regional medical collaboration. The liver came from a deceased donor she will never meet.

“Someone died — and saved my life,” she says quietly. “It’s a truth you carry every day.”

Katie’s recovery was marked not only by physical hurdles but emotional ones.

“I struggled with guilt,” she admits. “You have to keep reminding yourself — someone didn’t die because they saved you. They just… saved you.”

Her return to health sparked a fierce drive to give back. Katie now manages Team UAE at the World Transplant Games — and played a central role in the country’s induction into the World Transplant Games Federation.

She’s also back to training, preparing for her first major athletic event since her surgery. “Running, competing — it’s my way of rejecting the idea that a transplant makes me weak,” she says.

Katie believes the Games serve a dual purpose: showcasing the potential of transplant recipients and raising awareness in the UAE.

“People need to see our scars. They need to know organ donation isn’t abstract — it’s real, it’s visible, and it saves lives,” she says.

But she also wants to talk about prevention. “A lot of organ failure is caused by lifestyle diseases. Promoting sports and fitness is part of the same fight — it’s about saving lives before the transplant is ever needed.”

“I want my life back — and I’ll take every opportunity to reclaim it.”

Katie’s drive comes not just from her second chance, but from the community she hopes to build.

“There’s a lot of isolation in the transplant world,” she says. “The Games are a rare chance to be surrounded by people who get it. People who’ve walked through what we’ve walked through. That camaraderie is what I’m most excited about.”

Her message is simple: “Organ donation saves lives. So share your wishes with your family — and choose to leave a legacy of hope.”

Team UAE’s presence at the World Transplant Games isn’t just a sporting debut. It’s a declaration.

A declaration that the Hayat programme — the UAE’s national organ and tissue donation initiative — is not just about medical progress, but human stories. About rewriting destinies, breaking myths, and offering second chances.

“These athletes are symbols of triumph,” said Dr Georges-Pascal Haber of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “They reflect the UAE’s investment in compassionate care — and the strength of the human spirit.”

As they lace up for Dresden, both Katie and Omar carry the same message: survival isn’t the end of the story.

“We are more than our scars,” Omar says. “We are gratitude in motion.”

Age: 39

Sport: Track and field (returning to competition post-recovery)

Transplant History:

Background:

Marketing executive turned transplant advocate. Manager of Team UAE for the 2025 World Transplant Games.

Fact: Her transplant made medical history in the Gulf region.

Quote: “Someone died — and saved my life.”