Maxie Scully is 51 and received a transplanted kidney when he was 21. He is possibly the longest surviving kidney trasnplantee in the world. His name by the way is Maxie. Not short for Maximilian he explained: just Maxie. Born and brought up in Galway, Ireland, he was a lively and busy young man. His father was a veterinary surgeon and thereby hangs a tale.

He was a keen sportsman, playing rugby among other things, but horses were his first and enduring love. His ambition was to ride for Ireland. At the age of 19 he had been accepted by the Irish Army Equitation School, to further his horsemanship, when he was struck down by kidney failure due to the rare blood disorder known as Good Pastures Syndrome. He was put on dialysis for two years and in 1975 received a transplant. For eight weeks the new kidney would not function. His father, seeing Maxie's weakened state in hospital, was concerned that a great deal of attention was being paid to the transplanted kidney but in the meantime Maxie's lungs were taking serious strain. On his next visit Maxie's father brought some medicine he used for animals and insisted that Maxie decide whether to take it or not. His father would not make the decision. Maxie took it and two days later his kidney started functioning. The crisis was over.

On leaving hospital Maxie was told of the many things he would no longer be able to undertake, particularly horse riding. After giving this some thought, when he had recuperate his strength he asked his former rugby club whether they would give him a game, on the wing. He played that game without any adverse effects and made two decisions.

The first was that he would not play rugby again. The second was that he would concentrate efforts on his beloved horse riding. He did this with such success that eight years after his transplant, in 1983, he entered a show jumping event and and broke the world record for bareback riding. He cleared 6ft. 7.5in and entered the Guinness Book of Records. Maxie mentioned this because he felt that organ transplantees sometimes become too concerned with their health, take too many precautions and forget to get out there and enjoy life. He has continually set himself goals and motivated himself to achieve them. He believes this is the mind set which has helped him survive - and live - all these years. He encourages others to do the same.

With this approach to life he became very active in the World Transplant Games Federation after its formation in the 1970's. He worked closely with the first president of the new organisation, Professor Maurice Slapack. Maxie attended all the Games from their inception in 1978 until the 1990's in the capacity of 'ambassador' and motivator. He had an interesting experience when the Transplant Games were held in Japan. At a huge meeting of all the teams with their management, plus organisers, Press, etc., one Japanese gentleman told the assembly that transplants were forbidden by law in Japan. It was a matter of their culture, he explained, which in some cases considered the transplantation of organs to be equivalent to murder of the spirit.

The president, Prof. Maurice Slapack, was wondering how to reply to this serious statement when he saw Maxie in the vast auditorium, walking purposefully to one of the many microphones placed for the use of delegates. Being an able and articulate man, Maxie spoke with great clarity and some emotion, assuring the listeners that, in his view, transplantation of organs gave life and he believed that the spirit of the donor, if anything, lived on. The Press wanted to hear more so a Press Conference was called for the next day, at which Maxie Scully repeated his personal experience and opinions and fielded all manner of questions. Two months later, back in Ireland, he heard that Japan had rescinded the old law and transplantation had been legalised.

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After his transplant in 1975 Maxie Scully trained and then worked in hotel management. After several years he was looking for more outdoor activity and became a sales representative. After a while, and continuing to set himself goals and challenges, he started his own sales company. Throughout this time he was naturally being monitored regularly by his medical team. He had ups and downs partly due to the constant need for medication to avoid rejection, but continued with his interests and really making the most of each day. In 1995 he required a triple heart bypass and when the running of his sales company became too much, he took a course in auctioneering and is now a fully qualified auctioneer.

His abiding interest is in promoting organ transplants and motivating transplantees to extend themselves, not be overcautious, and enjoy the new lease of life they have been given. His personal history since receiving a kidney in 1975 is a wonderful example of how successful this approach can be.