Rotary Club of Leven Young Citizen of the Year 2017

After attending numerous hospital appointments with a sore knee Morgan was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Failure.  Morgan was just 13 years old, her life, as she knew it, was to drastically change. She went straight to Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow where she underwent her first operation.  Mum and dad were trained to work her dialysis machine so she could be allowed home.  She endured a gruelling dialysis regime for 13 months!  After lots of test they found out that dad was a perfect match and a date was set for their operations to take place on the 9^th July, 2014. 

During all this time Morgan remained very positive and still attended school despite feeling exhausted and unwell at times. If, on occasion, she was unable to attend school because she was ill or attending one of her numerous hospital appointments she always made sure she caught up with any course work she had missed.

Morgan finished school for the summer holidays in 2014 and had her transplant in July, she spent a month between Yorkhill Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House and amazingly managed to start back school right after the summer break, the same time as all her friends! Only missing classes to attend her hospital appointments in Glasgow.  .

Since Morgan’s diagnosis 4 years ago she has helped to raise thousands of pounds for charities including, Kidney Research, Yorkhill Children’s Charity, Ronald MacDonald House in Glasgow and the Make- A-Wish Foundation.

She has asked her school to take part in World Kidney Day for the past 3 years. They have a non school uniform day where all the children pay £1.00 not to wear uniform and do all sort of activities to raise funds for Kidney Research. She had also taken part in the Glasgow Bridges Walk for the past 3 years, again raising money for Kidney Research. In 2014 she did this 7 mile walk just 10 weeks after having her transplant operation!  In July she is taking part in a Colour Fun Run to help raise more funds and in October she will be doing the Glasgow Bridges Walk again.  At the end of July this year she is also going to Liverpool with a group of kids who will make up the Glasgow Team to take part in the British Transplant Games.

Along with all her fundraising Morgan has also had a couple of placements outside of school.  Her first one being at Arden House in Leven where she worked in the kitchen with the staff, helping to prepare and cook meals for the elderly.  

I think it is safe to say that Morgan is an insperational young lady who has managed to do amazing things and has never let her own health issues get in the way of the person she is.  

We wish Morgan every sucess with her future fundraising and we know that with her determination and stong values she will do even more great things in the future. 

Congratulation Morgan.