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 failed. His father donated a kidney — but eight weeks later, his body began rejecting it.

"I was hospitalised for more than 30 days. During which, I underwent long stretches of aggressive immunosuppressants, dialysis and plasma dialysis (for the first time) and other procedures. Due to the almost nonexistent immune system, I caught something that made me cough so much that I was coughing blood within minutes."

“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 Ramdhan. 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 also took part in #DukkanGetsFit, a campaign that began as a personal comeback to get into shape 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.”

Age: 36

Sport: 100m & 200m sprint

Transplant History:

Background:

Business owner.

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

Quote: “Gratitude in motion.”

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.

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

“I struggled with guilt,” she admits. “You have to consistently remind yourself that someone died AND they saved your life, rather than someone died BECAUSE they saved your life."

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.

"I think just the visual impact of seeing athletes with large surgical scars drives home the idea that organ donation brings people back to life."

But she also wants to talk about prevention. “There are many poor lifestyle choices that can factor into future organ failure, and promoting sports encourages active and healthy lifestyles that can prevent you from needing a transplant in the first place.”

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 share such a unique experience.”

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 inspiring athletes are our ambassadors of hope,” said Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “Their journeys reflect the strength of medical progress, compassionate care, and the UAE’s limitless potential to transform lives."

Age: 36

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

Transplant History:

Background:

Science teacher 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.”