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‘I had seven days to live’

April saw the climax to a global tournament, where the best in the world may be competing, but where potentially none of them wanted to qualify… For CNN podcast producer Eryn Mathewson, her first World Transplant Games resulted in athletic success.

She required a transplant and was given just seven days to live after suddenly developing liver failure. In the aftermath of her operation, she named her new organ “Salvador”, which is Spanish for saviour as her donor was of Dominican descent.

Eryn told Sportshour’s Caroline Barker about winning a silver medal in the 4x100 meters relay, her 80 year old teammate winning the 5K race, adapting to her new organ and her hopes of meeting her donor’s family one day.

Photo: Eryn in the USA team kit. (Credit: Eryn Mathewson/Twitter)

Release date:

Duration:

9 minutes